Occasionally when writing, I stare at a blank screen on my computer for hours. Unable to conjure up anything that is meaningful and worth the time to read it.

I do not consider myself a “writer,” but whenever I sit down to write this column, I honestly try to change the world, even when I don’t feel like writing.

Changing the world in 600 words or less is a pretty tall task, but I do carry that seriousness with me when I put pen to paper.

Not because I think one of my columns is going to actually change the world, but not trying to change the world when I write is not respecting the time of the reader. At least that is how I see it.

Do you go out for dinner hoping for an average meal, or go to a movie hoping that it will be just okay?

No, you want it to be the best meal you’ve ever eaten and the best movie you have ever seen. You want it to be worth your time and money.

We all want the best, but are we all willing to offer our best to others, especially when we don’t feel like it?

I remember my dad staring over my brothers and I shoulders when we cooked in his restaurant. He constantly harped on plate presentation. Placing pancakes, eggs, sausage, and hash browns on a plate had a method and style to it.

When the plate was placed in front of his customers, he wanted them to think they were going to eat the best meal of their life.

Every plate of food that left his kitchen had the customer in mind. He’d say, “Do it right the first time, you ain’t got the time to do it over. Give the customer what they are paying for.”

My father understood that the customer’s experience reflected him, and he had no intention of offering less than his best. He respected their time and money by being certain the customer left satisfied.

To me, there is no greater way to show respect for another than to value their time and money. Do it right, or don’t do it at all. Regardless of what you are doing, take pride in it because it truly reflects your character.

Just do the best you can, then afterwards, ask yourself; “Is that the best I can do?” Only you will know the answer to that question.

I’d rather be the one paying for a lousy meal than being the one who cooked it.

Here’s the deal –

You don’t have to be the fastest, just as fast as you can be.

You don’t have to be the strongest, just as strong as you can be.

You don’t have to be the smartest, just as smart as you can be.

You don’t have to be the best, just the best you can be.

The only person I want to be a better writer than is the yesterday me. I’ve wasted precious time in life trying to be better than the next guy, not realizing that my competition was staring back at me in the mirror.

I am trying not to finish second to myself.

Everything I want in life is on the other side of doing the things I don’t feel like doing. So, when I don’t feel like exercising, I exercise, when I don’t feel like being kind, I’m kind, when I don’t feel like sharing, I share.

To me that is showing respect for others, but more importantly that is showing respect for myself.

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Todd Howey is a columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose articles appear on Fridays. Email comments to [email protected].