as smart as the brightest people I know
as kind as the kindest people I know
as productive as the most industrious people I know
as astute as the most discerning people I know
as talented as the most artistic people I know
. which can be pretty discouraging sometimes.
And so I find that I have to be satisfied with trying not to be .
as mean as the meanest people I know
as wasteful as the most wanton people I know
as critical as the most demanding people I know
as self-absorbed as the most selfish people I know
. but those turn out to be a struggle sometimes too.