Douglas Malloch on how to “Be the Best”

During these times when the world is going through a tough time as the apndemic has made it difficult for the normal functioning of life, the importance of each job is being evaluated and realised. Right from the madi who worked at our home, whom we started takign casually to the garbage man, whom we treated as an outcast, to the drivers who we beleieved as subpar to us, this apndemic has show how evey task and work is important.

The Trail

Economics talks about the transfer of money from one individual to the other which makes a trial. What we sometimes forget is that in this trial every component has its own importance. Right from the boss to the subordinate to the shopkeeper, garbage man, we all are working for each other in sync. This is a symbiotic relationship that helps each individual.

Emphasising the same concept, I recently came across some lines in the book ‘Light From Many Lamps’.

If you can’t be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can’t be the sun then be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or fail —
Be the best of whatever you are!

In this poem ‘Be the Best’ Douglas Malloch explains why it is important to be the best, by using examples from around us. He explains that no work is small and we must take pride in what we do, as everything contributes to the development and upliftment of society.

Be the Best

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 the 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

The poet tells the reader, that though a pine tree on the top of the hill is a very noticeable feature, but if you cannot be that, then be a scrub in the valley besides the rill, which makes the valley beautiful. So even if you aren’t the part of a forest, then with your work beautify and add value to the place that you are in.

The writer continues to say that even if you can’t be a bush then be a grass at the sides of the highway, that make it beautiful and make the highway journey memorable for the passer-by.

He also takes the example of a rare fish ‘Muskie’ to encourage everyone, that even if you can’t be rare like a Muskie, then be one of the most liveliest bass in the lake, which will help the locals in getting their food.

We can’t all be captains, we’ve got 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 we must do is the near.

Douglas instils a sense of confidence in each individual by mentioning that though we can’t each be a captain, we surely can be a crew. A captain cannot sail without his crew, so there is work for everyone, and even if one falters then the task cannot be completed.

So always remember to be the best at whatever you do, and pass on the same message to your kids.