“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.” This wise word from a much respected man caught my attention as I was reading the written works of my student one day. Aristotle has been and will always be a great inspiration in the field of education. His works brought a countless deal of contribution for everyone to get inspiration from.

“We are what we repeatedly do.” Academic brilliance is an immediacy of needing to do something right, of being compelled to excel, of having to consistently exude your best, in a constant manner. When we do something brilliant on a one-time basis, it does not make us exceptional; rather it is our first step in making something extraordinary and life-changing.

“We are what we repeatedly do.” On the other side of the coin, we become the exact opposite of these words by Aristotle if we continuously do something which makes us a tinge of grime in a clean society.

Man defines himself if he consistently does something. A sinner can be a saint only if he changes his ways, but a thief who refuses to give in to temptation and continues his wicked habits will always be a bandit in small or large things. On the other hand, a man who practices kindness and godly deeds will forever be righteous even if no one watches over him.

A man can be in deep waters thinking that he is just a victim of circumstances, nonetheless,  he scrutinizes his ways and realizes that it was not the system that consumes him, but his inability to cope up and be a part of a system that demands and needs his skills and abilities.

He could have been great. He could have been loved. He could have been someone. But he fails to be consistent in what he does. Nevertheless, as the cliché goes, it is not too late for anyone to change. If it is in his heart to do something that will be beneficial to himself and the people around him, then why deprive him of his right? It may be hard to regain the trust and confidence of those who have given it to him in the past, but he can try.

One song says –“ Trust can be like a bar of chocolate, once it is melted, it can never go back to its original form.” I dare say that trust may not be the same as it was before, but when it’s given back it does not have a lesser value; just as when chocolates melt, it may not be as appetizing as it originally was, but the sweetness remains the same.

“We are what we repeatedly do.” If a man decides to go back to the path of rectitude, and chooses to be upright starting that day, doesn’t he deserve that second chance? Remember, to err is human, but to forgive divine.

Published and owned by: Ronan C. Relova, Teacher III- MNCHS English Department