It’s said that nice guys finish last.
Not too long ago, I reconnected with an old high school friend. We weren’t particularly close back then. I can’t say that we remembered a great deal about each other….after all it has been nearly 15 years. When we first started chatting again she did say that she remembered that I seemed to be a ‘nice guy’ and in fact the type of ‘nice guy’ that finishes last.
Our recent discussions have led me to consider this idea some more. Whether or not I actually am a nice guy or not doesn’t really matter, nor does what you believe me to be. What matters is that I try to be a nice guy. Does that mean that I’ll always finish last or somewhere near the bottom? I don’t know, but maybe the better question is what am I racing for? Or what is this contest I’m in (and apparently losing)? I don’t know the answer to that either, but maybe the answer isn’t important to ‘nice guys’. Maybe the only race or contest that’s important to a nice guy is the one that he’s in with himself….for himself. I’m pretty sure that’s how it works with me. I need to know that I am staying true to myself. Sure I’d like to get the girl and getting rich would be nice, but if I can’t do those things without staying true to myself then I’ll do without. Part of who I am is wanting to have a positive impact on people’s lives even if it’s in the smallest of ways. Sometimes that comes at the cost of a little pain or sacrifice for me, and that’s okay.
Am I finishing last? I don’t know what race you’re watching, but in the one I’m watching, I’m right in there.
Thanks to my friend for her inspiration.
You’re probably way ahead of me in the race, as usual, and not sweating at all.
Is there a big hill at the end of this race?
Jorge, you’ve got bigger things to worry about than a race with me.
Simon, I hope not. I don’t want to be racing up a hill when I’m old and grey.