I doubt he even knew he was in pain until he began writing. Last summer at the West Tennessee Writing Project intensive writing institute, I learned the difference between perfection and excellence. Perfection requires judgment, an automatic right or wrong. Excellence is simply being the best you can be and perhaps trying to improve yourself as you move through this mist called life. Perfection requires acceptance or rejection.
Excellence involves only acceptance.
Perfection means being the best. Excellence is being the best you can be. Perfection intones there is no room for improvement. Excellence allows us room to grow. Marilyn Etheredge teaches 4th graders at Trenton Elementary School, Trenton.