Doing the best that I can...

That is my six word memoir for today. I was tagged by Terri (Middle-of-the-Pack Girl) to find six words that describe my life. This was actually a difficult task. I am in a crossroads in my life as to how I see myself. I thought that running the marathon would make it more clear, but I haven't figured it out yet. I enjoyed the exercise of thinking about how I define myself and I came up with a few choices:

• Successful career before starting family. happiness.
• Created a family with my soulmate.
• A mother. A wife. A runner. [this one doesn't really describe my life as much as it describes the past five months. I am consumed with running right now because of this marathon, but I don't know if running will be part of my memoir this time next year....kwim?]
• Getting the most out of life [I like this one, but I am not sure I am there yet. I think I could get even more out of life. I just need to push some of my negativity out. I should follow Terri's advice with this one. I need to nag at my hubby less and take things as they come instead of worrying about them. I hope this will be my memoir in a few years. I suppose this is my goal memoir. Is there such a thing?]

So I decided on "doing my best that I can." At first glance it seems like an excuse or a cop out phrase. But when I look at my life, I realize that in every phase of my life I have done my best without holding myself to insane, unreachable standards. Could I have done better? Yes. Would I have enjoyed myself as much? Not even close. So my best is what is best for me and my life... not what is best by other people's standards.

I was a really good student. Could I have been an outstanding student? Sure. In order to have been a better student, I would have had to give up on much of the social and extracurricular things that helped to make me what I am today. I had fantastic grades through graduate school while excelling at my job. However, I really had no life. A relationship crumbled and I remember barely having time to eat. My best, in that case, wasn't really the best for me.

I had a successful career. Could I have gone further and done more? You bet. But to do that I would have had to work longer hours, relocated to undesirable parts of the country and foregone spending quality time with my family. My career could have taken on a bigger role in my life, however something bigger and better came along--a wonderful husband and family.

I'm a good mother. Can I be a better mother? Of course, and I am figuring that one out every day. Some days I feel like a fantastic mother. Other days I feel like the worst mother in the world. I take it one day at a time. I know that I will never be one of those mothers who keep a perfect house, home school the kids and chair every event. But I will keep my kids clean and safe, read to them, engage them and help them with homework and be involved as much as I feel I have the energy to do.

Doing the best that I can doesn't mean being being satisfied with mediocrity. I need to constantly set my own reasonable standards higher and higher. There are definitely days when I am not doing the best that I can and I just need to do better the next day. Luckily, I am pretty good at recognizing my faults and making adjustments. Kenny's pretty good at recognizing these faults and suggesting adjustments...LOL.

So to relate all this to running.... on Sunday I will run the best race I can. No regrets. No excuses. If there is a next time, I will do even better. That's the way all this stuff works, right?

So now I am supposed to tag other blogs. Like Alissa, I don't have too many other running bloggers that I know who haven't already done this. I will tag my friends with non-running blogs, if they haven't already been tagged. So, Penny, Hilly and Bean-- you are officially tagged. I also challenge my friends who read this to sit down and think of their own memoirs. Laura, Lisa, Jen, Heather, Janet, Emma, Linda....do yourselves a favor and come up with six words. If you are inspired, e-mail it to me or post it here. I am interested to see what you all have to say...

the rules:
Write your own six word (max) memoir.
Post it on your blog (or e-mail) and include a visual illustration if you want.
Link to the person who tagged you in your post.
Tag at least five more blogs.
Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play