Be the very best that you already are

Naked Leader Week – 198 (w/c Monday 19 March 2007)

I was this week asked my inspiration of the phrase, “be the very best that you already are.” This builds on last week’s nl week 197

We already had the title “Naked Leader” and the ideas of simplicity and stripping away the hype, mystery and jargon, and I was ready to take the idea one stage further.

And, as so often is true in life, when the student is ready – the teacher arrives.

I was watching Bridget Jones Diary with my family, when it reached this scene between Bridget (Renee Zellweger) and Mark (Colin Firth):

Bridget: That’ll be my taxi. Good night.

Mark: Look, um…I’m sorry if I’ve been…

Bridget: What?

Mark: I don’t think you’re an idiot at all. I mean, there are elements of
the ridiculous about you. Your mother’s pretty interesting. And
you really are…an appallingly bad public speaker. And you tend to
let whatever’s in your head…come out of your mouth…without
much consideration of the consequences.

I realize that when I met you at the turkey curry buffet…that I was
unforgivably rude and wearing a reindeer jumper…that my mother
had given me the day before. But the thing is, um…what I’m trying
to say very inarticulately is…that, um…in fact…perhaps, despite
appearances…I like you very much.

Bridget: Ah. Apart from the smoking and the drinking…and the vulgar
mother and the verbal diarrhoea.

Mark: No. I like you very much– just as you are.

Those last there words changed my life forever – just as you are

People may tell you that you are not “the finished article” – no, you are not, that will only happen when you die. And the ultimate irony is that while you are alive many people will want to change you, the same people who. At your funeral, will say how wonderful you “were.”

Please, take this message to your partner, to someone whose life you touch, phone home, phone someone, hey even e-mail them, and in your own words, tell them that you love them, you like them, you appreciate them, just as they are.

And yes, bring this message home, to yourself

With love to you, just as you are

David

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Bridget Jones Diary – Screenplay by Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies and Richard Curtis – adapted from the novel by Helen Fielding.