BETTER THAN MY BEST

In The Sound of Music, Maria steps off the bus and while on the way to Captain Von Trapp’s house, she sings a song about having confidence. This song is my favorite in the movie because it is relatable today, 46 years after the movie first came out.

My favorite part of the song is: “The courage to serve them with reliance, face my mistakes without defiance, show them I’m worthy, and while I show them, I’ll…show…me…so…let them bring on all their problems. I’ll do better than my best. I have confidence they’ll put me to the test, and I’ll make them see I have confidence in me. Somehow I will impress them. I will be firm but kind, and all those children, Heaven bless them, they will look up to me, and mind me. With each step I am more certain. Everything will turn out fine. I have confidence the world can all be mine, they’ll have to agree I have confidence in me.” (I Have Confidence. Julie Andrews)

My favorite line is “I’ll do better than my best.” What a goal! How many times have we heard and said, “I’m doing the best I can.” With a little effort, we can do even better. I think of a sprinter who has just run their best time. They are proud of their accomplishment, but it doesn’t make them want to retire. It makes them want to work harder so that the next time, they can beat their best time. It makes them want to do better than their best.

I know there are many things in my life that I could be doing better. I think I will make “I Have Confidence” my theme song.