For the most part, most of us are at various levels of mediocrity. Yes, yes — everyone can be president; everyone is a winner; everyone is special; and all children are precious. And yes, you can be mediocre and extremely wealthy (just look at the current crop of the wealthiest individuals today; is there any doubt as to their mediocrity?); but rarely does one see the likes of Frank Ramsey, Wittgenstein, Russell, Einstein, Godel, and so many others. And, by the term “mediocrity” is not meant any negative connotation, but merely that one is a regular, functioning human being. There are stages in the recognition of one’s mediocrity: Denial; Acceptance with a compromise that, okay, so I’m mediocre, but still more brilliant than most; Further Denial; Middle Age Denial (“I’m just a late bloomer”); Some attainment of a semblance of success — maybe even given an award at work for “Most Reliable Worker” — an accolade which allows for a temporary suspension of the final realization; Despondency at various times as one approaches the Winter of a life; A family, with kids, and your own kids exemplify and magnify one’s own mediocrity, but at least you have done your best and — hopefully — your kids look up to you and respect you. And in the end, the final Stage of Recognition: That being brilliant is not the only or most important characteristic for life’s success, but rather, if you provided a warm and happy home for a wife, a child, or even a stray and abandoned “rescue dog” — well,...
A whistleblower that received a share of the US government’s $150 million False Claims Act settlement with Walgreen Co. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. couldn’t convince a federal court to rule ...