BY BONNIE LEE STRUNK

Special to The Press

The words are not in my vocabulary.

That’s what I told a friend when he insisted, “It’s good enough,” after watching me struggle to mat and frame a photo.

Throughout my life I have not settled for “good enough” in anything, whether evaluating my work, my leisure pursuits or my relationships.

Whatever I am doing or involved in, I want it to be the best I am capable of, even if sometimes I am not capable of much!

I’m a great fan of inspirational quotes, many of which emanate from Bible verses.

Several scriptures seem to support my personal motto, so I think I am on pretty solid ground when friends tease me about being a perfectionist or too picky when it comes to myself (not to others).

Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us to do whatever activity we are engaged in with all our ability or might.

And according to Colossians 3:23, whatever our task, whatever we do, we should “work heartily.”

Apparently many folks working today never heard those words and certainly don’t share my zeal for being their best or doing their best.

Mail carriers, at least in my neighborhood, don’t even seem to try.

Lately we have been getting mail deliveries about three days a week, not six.

Even worse, sometimes we get the wrong mail.

I have photographed envelopes, including credit card statements, that should have been delivered elsewhere.

Twice I mistakenly received small packages bearing tracking numbers.

Yes, the package was delivered, but to the wrong address!

Contractors of all types have demonstrated repeatedly they are not doing even “good enough.” Many are doing nothing.

An older friend had made arrangements for snow removal early this year. The plow never showed up when snow fell.

Another friend with mobility problems hired a lawn service for this summer. Again, the company was a no-show.

A woman I know was successful in getting a house painter to provide an estimate, which she accepted.

The painter never came back to do the work.

I have had two window cleaning companies make appointments to look at my house and give me estimates.

Neither man showed up for the appointment or responded to my subsequent phone calls.

A wallpaper installer/painter came to my house to look at work that needs to be done in the kitchen.

He said he would provide me with an estimate. I never heard from him again.

If these business people are doing the best they are capable of, they should close up shop.

Whatever the field, some workers are dedicated and strive to do their best, while others lazily get by and do the minimum.

At the bank last week, I attempted to make a change to my yearly IRA distribution.

On the form I was supposed to sign, both my account number and bank routing number were incorrect, even though the correct information was on the statement I presented and on the computer screen.

And these people are entrusted with our money!

To my surprise and dismay, doctors have suggested I research and locate medical facilities that specialize in my rare disease.

Isn’t that the job of my medical providers?

After a month of searching, when I did find a few possibilities, none in this area, the clinics I called said they needed a doctor’s referral.

Why was I doing my physician’s work?!

Are all these people examples of “it’s good enough?”

Should a doctor or banker, or anyone, be satisfied doing mediocre work?

Not in my opinion.

I believe if folks are passionate about their work, whatever it may be, they never stop doing their best.

Whatever we are doing, we should let our light shine.

True, we can’t all be a lighthouse.

But every single one of us can be a candle.

To do anything less is worse than “good enough.”