Greatness Heading Out the Door to Something Better

It’s my third blog in the past six months on the same subject matter. However, considering the news, if I didn’t say anything at all, it might be strange.

Tom Brady retired. Some small minority of people or experts might try to argue against him being the greatest player in the history of professional football…but it wouldn’t be a long conversation for them to be wrong. Seven Super Bowl wins, ten Super Bowl appearances, the all-time leading passer in yards, touchdown passes, completions, most other categories, in a career spanning more than two decades in a sport where the average tenure is less than three years. Consider this---his ten Super Bowl appearances - or more than any other franchise with the exception of the New England Patriots (which he led to nine of their 11). His seven Super Bowl wins are more than any other franchise in the history of the Super Bowl era.

I’m not smart enough to be an art aficionado. But I do wonder when Beethoven or Mozart passed away, did people of the time realize their eternal greatness? When George Gershwin passed in the early part of the 20th century, did the American society realize he was probably the greatest American music composer of all time? When Rembrandt or Degas passed, did people understand the pure mastery of their artistic talent? 

We live in such an instant gratification world….the news cycle happens, is reported, and is forgotten so quickly. That same “speed of news cycle” buried yesterday’s story more quickly. 

What things in our lives shouldn’t be forgotten so quickly?  Greatness, whether in Tom Brady or time with your family or an amazing professional or personal accomplishment or just receiving or giving love shouldn’t be passed over so instantly. Taking time to relish greatness is important. The world spins faster and faster… do we, do I, take enough time to realize the greatness in our own lives?