Be Great

Gorgeous walk through Prospect Park yesterday. Two beautiful moments collided into one another just before we exited: the whine of a remote controlled airplane caught our attention. A man launched what was no doubt a Christmas present into the open air of the sheep field while his son manned the radio. It was a bit Wright Brothers - the plane didn't stay in the air very long and the man had maybe a bit too much advice for his scion piloto. But when the boy put it down 200 feet on, without a bump, the man turned to his boy looking as though he had more advice. But what he really had was a big ol' hand in the air. He gave his son the feels-good-from-your-dad high five.

Which is when the lovely man with the fantastic face started chatting us up from his bench. He had lots to say. We talked back some but kept walking, denying him the stop and engage he might have been looking for. He wrapped up the little exchange by telling us to 'Be Great'.

Be Great. Don't Be Good, well, or okay. Don't be mediocre or what-you-can-be or fine. Be Great.

Be is a good word.

So is great.

The two of them together suggests we strive for something beyond us. This seems a common theme in my world today - everyone around me striving to be greater than they were the moment before.

The piloto boy was being great and his dad was too. So was the man on the bench with the fantastic face.

Be Great.