JUGHEADS
Youth Juggling Company, LLC
5905 Concord Avenue
Edina, MN 55424
jugheads@comcast.net
or 952.926.0896

[Back to Paul's Platform main selection page]

December 2007

“Celebrating Mediocrity: Margin part 2”

At the EHS graduation ceremony last June, camp-only Jughead Josh S. delivered one of the best student speeches I've ever heard in any setting. His theme was "celebrating mediocrity," and Josh's wit and insight into much of the Edina culture was both refreshing and hilarious. Now, I'm not out to slam the community which has given me a career since 1992 and a place for home ownership since 1996. (Go to www.edinaunplugged.org for evidence of this community's efforts to achieve balance.) Rather, I'd like to borrow the concept from Mr. Schwartz as a follow- up to my November Platform on the need for balance/margin in our American (and especially Twin Cities suburban) way of life.

I am a firm believer in personal and collective excellence, but at what cost? Inventor Thomas Edison had 1,093 patents to his name, but his first wife reputedly died of a "broken heart" due to the lack of time he spent with her. By contrast, family man Ron Arneberg turned down job promotions in the '70's which would have relocated his wife, four teenagers and young Paul, opting instead for a stable family life. We all must strive for excellence, I believe, but we must also carefully count the cost and choose wisely where and how much time we'll devote to our passions. As for me, I graduated with "mediocre" GPAs (3.33 in HS, 3.25 in college), but my immersion in music, theatre, sports, student leadership, faith, and family helped to shape me into who I am today. Behind every form of excellence is the conscious choice to be mediocre in another area. Trying to "do it all" is impossible. Pastor Tom Steller put it this way: "Don't let the urgent things in life usurp the important things." I commend to you a blessed holiday season of making (sacrificing) time for the important things.