Dear James Jones:

The message you were given by your parents was “as long as you do your best, you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

This means AS LONG as you do your best… but the moment you don’t, your shame is valid.

Doesn’t it mean you have to be very careful to always do your best, be on your toes, because the moment there is a slipup, the moment you RELAX, is the moment of danger, of deserved shame?

So was/ is the expectation of you by your parent/s – and consequently by you- that you perform perfectly, always at Best level and nothing less is acceptable?

anita