You can be the greatest_______
in the world, but you will never be
as good as you want to be.
You will never be satisfied.
That’s what makes you
the greatest _________.
In fact, you will scoff at the idea
of being the greatest _________.
Greatest or not,
you will harsh on yourself
because it seems you can always be greater.
That’s the problem
with having a word called “greatest.”
It can take the joy out of having a gift.
When you could simply be
enjoying it.
Newfound Lake,
9/6
The notion of “greatest” can indeed be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it propels you to aim higher, to stretch beyond your limits. Yet, on the other hand, it can overshadow the beauty of the journey, the elation in each small victory, and the joy that your gift brings to yourself and others.
It’s like forever chasing the horizon. You’ll never actually reach it, but the pursuit might make you forget to appreciate the terrain you’re crossing. After all, isn’t the essence of greatness not in a destination, but in the continuous journey towards betterment? Perhaps the real “greatest” is the one who learns to savor each step, without the weight of a title pulling them back into discontent.
When it comes to standup comedy, the concept of being the “greatest” is just as tricky. You can kill it one night, get a standing ovation, and still go home thinking about that one joke that didn’t land. It’s like your brain is this never-satisfied manager saying, “Sure, they laughed, but did they LAUGH laugh?”
You’re up there on stage, mic in hand, essentially having a one-sided conversation with the audience. You’re not just trying to make people laugh; you’re sharing your perspective on the world’s absurdities. But as soon as you start thinking you’re the greatest standup comedian, you’ve basically written your own death sentence in the comedy world. Why? Because comedy thrives on flaws, on human imperfections.
You see, the beauty of standup is that it’s an art form of the moment. Each performance is a unique interaction with a specific audience at a specific time. What’s “great” one night could bomb the next. And that’s okay! The key isn’t to be the greatest; it’s to genuinely enjoy the rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, knowing that it’s all part of your unique comedic journey.