All or......

Nothing. An absolute void of thing. (my definition). A thing- person, place, idea even, despite an idea being immeasurable, evening in the behavior being reported from the idea, I cannot "fake" an idea, because the mere mention, or the ability of the mind to grasp and even mimic the idea, therefore makes it real. So, nothing, as it is, void, has to be in relation to something. For example, today as of 10-13-2018, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have nothing in their win column. They have nothing, for there is something that it is in relation to. Nothing, compared to something.

It doesn't have to be perfect. 

Someone in America says, "I have nothing to eat," more likely than not, "nothing" is in comparison to some idea of "something else." Unsure of what that is.

When we think in terms of all (which is a whole other concept itself) or nothing, we tend to get into trouble. For instance, if I am trying to do something great, let's say, right the next great American Novel, which I have attempted a few times, uh hem, Castle-Broken: When appearances are everything, available here, and I want to be all-in. What in the world could that possibly consist of? What could I do to be "all" on anything? I can be me, maybe be all of me, but that wants all of you, right John Legend? But there has to be a context here. There has to be a version of me, my all, that I allow "enough." Not, "good enough," as in quality, but, enough has been done to the product, as to where me editor says, "sometimes you do too much, try too hard, and at some point starts to take away from the message." Ouch.

So, "enough" is established on the "all" part of this, what about the "nothing?" Again, we cannot have, "nothing" nor should we strive for it in the face of defeat or if we fail on the road to success. We might want to give up because bailing out seems easier than sticking with something, but there is no nobility in only finishing the projects, the races, that can be won. That is a poor sport, poor character, and an overall poor thought process to indulge.

Athletics unfortunately, have a tendency to promote all-or-nothing thinking, you win or lose, and I despise the "everyone getting a trophy" syndrome taking over America. I want people to lose, just like I want people to win. I want people to furthermore accept their Ls as well as rack up Ws. Its the idea that the losers stick with it, when losing, when it is apparent that they are going to lose, that is the most important. Right parents?

Competition tends to bring out the most survival, or the socially-worst parts of us. If we are in a competition for food, we should pray never happens, then I think our neighbor will become our biggest foe, showing mankind true humanity. Competition for mates, resources, accolades, admiration, tends to be either you have it, or you don't. Those that don't are not losers, they just don't have the win, right now. We will get a win, sooner-or-later, even if it is in death, wins will come to those who believe.

 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  - Matthew 6:19-21

The nothing of a win column, uh hem, sports teams, does not equate to the work being put in, the character of the person, the building of necessary skills to a better person, team, family. Just because there is not an all-in idea that people grab a hold of, yet interpret differently, doesn't meant that nothing is left. It means that there is a large middle area to learn, grow, and advance from. Whether it is a diet, or exercise or school plan, maybe raising children, for which my wife and I live in the grey area here, perfection isn't the key to victory, but the character in either the success or the failure that matters.

That all-or-nothing thinking gets overwhelming. 

God Bless.