Perfection?
It appears that it is possible that Bnoit Violier, the 44-year-old culinary master whose tiny restaurant in Switzerland was awarded the highest Michelin rating – 3 stars – may have committed suicide. Did he crack from the pressure of reaching and maintaining a standard of food and service around which as the restaurateur Erie Ziebold says, creates “an experience worth building a trip around” (NPR interview). Obviously most of us will never have the desire or the money to build a trip around a visit to such a restaurant. Most of all will not even aspire to make or spend the kind of money which will allow for a three to five-hour dinner evening which would leave us, at a minimum, several hundreds of dollars poorer.
Most of us will not publish the perfect book, create that Picasso level piece of art, be a sports player deemed near enough perfection to be paid millions of dollars, be the next Pope Francis, or otherwise achieve near perfection in our chosen field. The reason for this is that most of us either do not have the level of talent or drive/ambition or are not willing to put in 17 or 18 hours a day for any length of time and, if we were, could not maintain the sharpness necessary to approach that level of perfection.
Does it matter what level of perfection we achieve as long as we are reasonably productive, decent human beings? What if none of us aspired to reach the apex of our chosen passion or talent? Is the world significantly better off because of the Eric Ziebolds or the Bnoit Violiers? Does it really matter if the Bnoit Violiers of the world live 44 years or 90 years? It seems as if it matters. Many who cared for this man will experience his death as tragic because of his age whereas if he had lived to be 90, his life and eventual death might have been viewed differently.
It seems that most of we humans are viewed as either “acceptable” at best or a “throw away” who might have better served the world if we had not been born. We will not create what amounts to a three-star Michelin rating or the level of income which allows us to plan a trip around spending an evening and much currency at such a place.
Certainly this a lot of be said for a Gil Shaham, a Joshua Bell, a Salvador Dali, a Frank Gehry, or the spiritual clearness of a Mother Theresa. Most of us, however, will not even aspire to become the next president of the United States much less have any hope of having the level of political expertise and potential skill or is it moxie to put ourselves in the position of passing the equivalent of three-Michelin star exam.
As most of my readers know I am practically addicted to Ted Talks. One of the attributes of Ted Talks is that it recognizes that many of we humans have something valuable to offer each other. On Ted Talks one will find the Bill Gates of the world – those who have been and/or remain innovators in their respective fields. And, one will find those who make upslaugh or cry. This morning, for example, I listed to Ismael Nazario talking about “What I learned as a kid in jail” and Harry Baker talking about and reciting his poems in “A love poem for lonely prime numbers.”
This morning I had also listened to an NPR story of the life and death of Bnoit Violier. Additionally, I had listen to CNN news whose reports focused on the United States Presidential Campaign and war-related events such as the destruction of oil fields the proceeds of which were allegedly financing some of the operation of terrorist organizations.
I was also informed by a person at the gym that our President had spent time lauding the enemy which turned out to mean that President Obama had visited a Mosque yesterday where he affirmed the fact that most Muslims, just like most Christians, want to create a more just and peaceful world.
All this is a backdrop for asking myself again today that essential of questions with which I must daily challenge myself, “What is my idea for or ideal of perfection for today?” Another way of my asking that question of myself is “What is my spiritual goal of today?” Could that goal be simply to be present to whomever I happen to see today or talk to today no matter what their political or religious opinion, their age, or their background? Can I listen to that kid who has spent time as a teenager in the jails of New York where it is legal to treat all juveniles 17 or older as adults in the legal system? Can I listen to the person who thinks that President Obama is visiting and supporting the enemy by visiting a Mosque? Can I listen to the friend who challenged me to think of the merits of Donald Trump? Can I embrace the dream of someone who wants to provide a three-star Michelin experience? Can I enjoy the passion and the fun of a mathematician poet? Can I challenge myself to write even when it seems as if the muse is not visiting and I am not feeling as if my vision of perfection or achievement is worthy of attention?
It seems as if each of us must daily ask ourselves about our idea of perfection. Perhaps we will first have to ask ourselves the core values which will determine that goal.
Last evening, I was talking to a gym buddy about my admiration for the fact that he and his wife know enough to question how they arrived at their parenting idea and aspirations. I was fascinated by the fact that he and his wife know enough to even ask this question. Is that perfection? Perhaps?
What is my best for today? What is the wildest dream I can have for today? What is attainable? At what cost?
Written February 4, 2016
It appears that it is possible that Bnoit Violier, the 44-year-old culinary master whose tiny restaurant in Switzerland was awarded the highest Michelin rating – 3 stars – may have committed suicide. Did he crack from the pressure of reaching and maintaining a standard of food and service around which as the restaurateur Erie Ziebold says, creates “an experience worth building a trip around” (NPR interview). Obviously most of us will never have the desire or the money to build a trip around a visit to such a restaurant. Most of all will not even aspire to make or spend the kind of money which will allow for a three to five-hour dinner evening which would leave us, at a minimum, several hundreds of dollars poorer.
Most of us will not publish the perfect book, create that Picasso level piece of art, be a sports player deemed near enough perfection to be paid millions of dollars, be the next Pope Francis, or otherwise achieve near perfection in our chosen field. The reason for this is that most of us either do not have the level of talent or drive/ambition or are not willing to put in 17 or 18 hours a day for any length of time and, if we were, could not maintain the sharpness necessary to approach that level of perfection.
Does it matter what level of perfection we achieve as long as we are reasonably productive, decent human beings? What if none of us aspired to reach the apex of our chosen passion or talent? Is the world significantly better off because of the Eric Ziebolds or the Bnoit Violiers? Does it really matter if the Bnoit Violiers of the world live 44 years or 90 years? It seems as if it matters. Many who cared for this man will experience his death as tragic because of his age whereas if he had lived to be 90, his life and eventual death might have been viewed differently.
It seems that most of we humans are viewed as either “acceptable” at best or a “throw away” who might have better served the world if we had not been born. We will not create what amounts to a three-star Michelin rating or the level of income which allows us to plan a trip around spending an evening and much currency at such a place.
Certainly this a lot of be said for a Gil Shaham, a Joshua Bell, a Salvador Dali, a Frank Gehry, or the spiritual clearness of a Mother Theresa. Most of us, however, will not even aspire to become the next president of the United States much less have any hope of having the level of political expertise and potential skill or is it moxie to put ourselves in the position of passing the equivalent of three-Michelin star exam.
As most of my readers know I am practically addicted to Ted Talks. One of the attributes of Ted Talks is that it recognizes that many of we humans have something valuable to offer each other. On Ted Talks one will find the Bill Gates of the world – those who have been and/or remain innovators in their respective fields. And, one will find those who make upslaugh or cry. This morning, for example, I listed to Ismael Nazario talking about “What I learned as a kid in jail” and Harry Baker talking about and reciting his poems in “A love poem for lonely prime numbers.”
This morning I had also listened to an NPR story of the life and death of Bnoit Violier. Additionally, I had listen to CNN news whose reports focused on the United States Presidential Campaign and war-related events such as the destruction of oil fields the proceeds of which were allegedly financing some of the operation of terrorist organizations.
I was also informed by a person at the gym that our President had spent time lauding the enemy which turned out to mean that President Obama had visited a Mosque yesterday where he affirmed the fact that most Muslims, just like most Christians, want to create a more just and peaceful world.
All this is a backdrop for asking myself again today that essential of questions with which I must daily challenge myself, “What is my idea for or ideal of perfection for today?” Another way of my asking that question of myself is “What is my spiritual goal of today?” Could that goal be simply to be present to whomever I happen to see today or talk to today no matter what their political or religious opinion, their age, or their background? Can I listen to that kid who has spent time as a teenager in the jails of New York where it is legal to treat all juveniles 17 or older as adults in the legal system? Can I listen to the person who thinks that President Obama is visiting and supporting the enemy by visiting a Mosque? Can I listen to the friend who challenged me to think of the merits of Donald Trump? Can I embrace the dream of someone who wants to provide a three-star Michelin experience? Can I enjoy the passion and the fun of a mathematician poet? Can I challenge myself to write even when it seems as if the muse is not visiting and I am not feeling as if my vision of perfection or achievement is worthy of attention?
It seems as if each of us must daily ask ourselves about our idea of perfection. Perhaps we will first have to ask ourselves the core values which will determine that goal.
Last evening, I was talking to a gym buddy about my admiration for the fact that he and his wife know enough to question how they arrived at their parenting idea and aspirations. I was fascinated by the fact that he and his wife know enough to even ask this question. Is that perfection? Perhaps?
What is my best for today? What is the wildest dream I can have for today? What is attainable? At what cost?
Written February 4, 2016
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