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My life has been a perpetual lesson in humility, not that I have embraced humility. Rather it’s more correct to say I’ve been envious or challenged by others most of my life.

As I think back through my life I remember ranking number two on occasion and I was usually pleased with the accomplishment. In all honesty, I’m quite sure if I were one of those gifted people that seems to be good at everything I would be extremely prideful. Ha, thank God he spared me from that ugliness.

Unfortunately my pride shows itself anyway by causing frustration when I’m not as good as others in an event, task or situation. Fortunately I’m surrounded by people that are positive, encouraging, helpful and friendly. These people lift me up when I falter by bestowing me with kind and positive words and actions. They endeavor to restore joy and optimism. Interestingly enough it’s the successfully people that offer encouragement which leads me to an understanding that success is more a state of mind than a list of accomplishments.

In actuality, the majority of the world is average, but that’s not to say we aren’t intelligent, motivated, creative, successful, talented, wealthy or content. Trying our best does not guarantee we will come out on top. It’s just a fact of life, although painful often our best is just not good enough to get what we want.

Somewhere in time we were taught to frown on average. It’s not surprising that today everyone has to be a specialist or expert. We earn participation medals, attendance awards, certificates, diplomas, designations, and titles. It all leaves me empty and pondering on the Groucho Marx gag-line “I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member.” If I can earn a medal, it must not be too hard to achieve. So many awards and presentations are worthless existing only to make us feel good about ourselves and for the most part it works. Other citations and designations exist because we bought them with our time or money.

I readily admit I respond to words of praise and recognition and acts of kindness or sincerity, because it boosts my confidence and elevates my attitude. But I find it amusing that a piece of paper or title, void of human warmth, can bolster one’s self-worth. When did a material article garner such power over us?

What’s my point? Success starts with self-assurance, for this reason: 1) Why can’t we be hard working, intelligent, successful, talented and average? 2) Why do we equate our self-worthy with a piece of paper? 3) Where is the distinction when everyone gets a trophy? 4) When do we become content with where we are and what we are instead of striving for more and better? 5) When does the sacrifice (of time, family, etc.) outweigh the reward?

There is no absolute answer. We are like snowflakes, each uniquely made and I surmise the word “average” is not part of God’s vocabulary. The majority of us will never become billionaires, dunk a basketball, or dance in a Ballet company but God doesn’t make junk and in his eye’s each of us are #1 and that is good enough for me, how about you?

Upcoming events:

Tonight: Congratulations to the students on the homecoming court who will be recognized on Hole Field before the game against Minster tonight. Freshman representatives Melissa Gigandet and William Eversole; sophomore representatives Danielle Winner and Kyle Jones; junior representatives Danielle Hesson and Jonathan Moorman; and senior representatives, Courtney McEldowney and Mason DeMange. Congratulations and good luck to queen Candidates: Lexi Fliehman, Lauren Monnin, Kristin Langston, Mariah Collins, and Abbey Marshal and king candidates: Mitchell Subler, Adam Lyons, Collin Peters, Isaac Buschur and Kyle Marchal.

Sunday is the Versailles Eagles Auxiliary Breakfast from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Sunday: Happy 100th anniversary, Midmark! As an anniversary gift the Towne & Country Players are providing free music (“Freelance”) at the fountain square from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. open to the public. Some of the local businesses will be open during these hours.

The St. Denis and Holy Family CYO basketball is pre-selling chicken dinner tickets for Oct. 4. For tickets, call Rich Schwieterman at (937) 621-0433 or Becky Steinbrunner at (937) 644-9233.

The Darke County YMCA begins another four weeks of fitness Oct. 5 registration is underway. You may check them out on Facebook http://www.ymcadarkecounty.org/

Happy birthday to Marie Didier, Norma Magoto, Theresa Thobe, Landon Pleiman, Madison Covault, Jim Rahm, LouAnn Mussman, Norm Seubert, Kelsey Berning, Joelle Delancey, Michele Henninger, George Brewer, Isabelle Ellis, Mike Poling, Deb Brand, Nichole Stockslager, Miriam Harman, Brian Schwieterman, Jerry Bey, Stephanie Mestemaker, Ralph Gehret, Sarah Voisard, Shirley Billenstein, Mike Poling, Vicki Witt, Rhonda Albers and Melanie Parin as their birthdays approach as well as, anniversary wishes to Morgan and Ben Seger (4), Maggie and Brian Knapke (7), Kari and Lance Bartram (7), Jenny and Kyle Francis (8), Mary Jo and Jim High (10), Sara and Doug Mendenhall (10), Tammy and Mike Poling (13), Angie and Kevin Lyme (19), Michelle and Kevin Flory (19), Sheila and Pat Voisard (25), Anita and Tony Knapke (25), Candi and Mike Etter (27), Lynne and Joe Schlater (28), Debbie and Mike Shively (33), Holly and Ted Finnarn (42), Betty and Luke Jutte (63), and LouAnn and Pastor Jim Mussman (69).

Healing prayers and get well wishes to Ernie DeMange, Dan Simon (bi-pass surgery), Dave Gibson, Boots Breaden, Robert Longenecker, Karen Coverstone, Rita Wuebker, Bill Pepiot, Yvonne Ridenour, Wayne Pittsenbarger, John Klipstine, Arthur Curtis, Michelle Ullom, Harold Langston, Sr., Jack Munn, Thelma Schultz, James Youngker, Isabella Yakos, Brian Voisard Barb and Jon Agne, Samantha Smith and all those dealing with life’s challenges, as well the hospitalized or homebound in need of our prayers but not mentioned by name.

Sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Lisa Coate (54), John Magoto (78), Ruth Edger (86), Treva Shimp (88), and Waldo Fine (94) also remembering the lives of Janet Richhart, David Grieshop, Ralph Seger, Alva Pitsenbarger, Ruth B. Magoto, Mary Jane Kiehl, Alvin Schulze, Bill Goettemoeller, Virginia Hollinger, Bob Francis, Larry Miller, Guy Borchers, Pat Yount, Billy Turner, Kevin Rue, Mary Francis, Fr. David Heinl, Bob Rhoades, Jim Laub, Marie Minnich, Edna Sheffel, Bob Brumbaugh, JP Simon, Ann Subler, Dula Brand, Jerry Kuether, Homer Wood and all those not mentioned by name as the anniversary of their recently passing.

“Everyone’s a winner” ~Carnival Worker

“Cracker Jack makes everyone a winner too, but you must ask yourself how valuable are their prizes?” ~C. Edwards

“When everyone gets a trophy no one wins.” ~Unknown

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Being average

By Kathy Magoto

Kathy Magoto is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves The Daily Advocate readers weekly with her weekly Versailles community column. She can be reached at [email protected] or at 526-3798. Feel free to contact her with Versailles news and tidbits. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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