A Principle To Keep

In my eyes, an important principle to keep, no matter the situation is to do your best. This principle can have many different interpretations, whether it be to do you best in keeping your family safe, or even in everyday tasks. The situation you experience dictates what doing your best means. For example if I were living on Earth when "The Road" takes place, my principle would apply to doing my best in keeping alive as well as keeping those close to me alive. Doing your best doesn't necessarily mean being perfect; no ones perfect. It means putting 100 percent into anything you do. No matter the magnitude or importance give it your all. In everyday situations giving 90 versus 100 percent might not matter much, however in life threatening situation, like the ones that the father and his son face in "The Road" giving 99 versus 100 percent of your effort may mean the difference between life and death. Doing your best means not giving up, even when times get tough. It means not losing hope; because when you lose hope, you loose your will to live. The father in McCarthy's novel sees hope for a better future in the form of his son, that is why he gives his all when it comes to staying alive. He still has hope which drives him to stay alive. Hope is an important idea to hold on to. Even when things get hard.