Be The Best Of Whatever You Are

"We all dream of great deeds and high positions, away from

the pettiness and humdrum of ordinary life. Yet success is not occupying

a lofty place or doing conspicuous work; it is being the best that is in you.

Rattling around in too big a job is worse than filling a small one to

overflowing.  Dream, aspire by all means; but do not ruin the life

you must lead by dreaming pipe dreams of the one you would

like to lead. Make the most of what you have and are. Perhaps

the trivial, immediate task is your one sure way of proving

your mettle. Do the thing near at hand, and great things will

come to your hand to be done."-D.M.

Sunrise on Muskegon Lake

Muskegon, Michigan

July 6, 2009

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,

Be a scrub in the valley-but be

The best little scrub by the side of the rill;

Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush be a bit of green grass,

And some highway happier make;

If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass-

But the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,

There's something for all of us here,

There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do,

And the task you must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,

If you can't be the sun be a star:

It isn't by size that you win or you fail-

Be the best of whatever you are!

A view from the Manistee River Trail
Manistee County, Michigan

"Be The Best Of Whatever You Are"

Douglas Malloch

(1877-1938)

America's and Michigan's

"Lumberman's Poet"