I had an unusual first today. I’m the first person to check The Archer Files out from the Multnomah County Library. Whoo Hooo! I had recommended the book to the library for purchase. When you recommend a purchase you can elect to have a hold placed. As soon as the book arrives you get it.
People like to be first. Internet geek site Slashdot has a long standing cult of people racing to be first to comment on a new story. In many cases being first is an actual achievement. First on the moon, first to accomplish something, first in the family to go to college, first to reach a goal in school or at work. There are lots of firsts out there to accomplish.
Being first is somewhat like being perfect. You can miss out on a lot of good and great things while seeking first place or perfection. A T-Shirt I first saw in the late 1980s read “You can’t be first, but you could be next.” Oddly an image search for this quip shows (at this time) only things that read “you can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep rereading the last one.”
Time to quit seeking first and move on to the next chapter.