Human potential, it is often said, is a vast untapped pool of resources. While this is true, what is it that keeps us from realizing our potential. I was inspired last night by the Aphid. I don’t even know if this is what he inteded, but it hit me like a ton of lollipops this morning. Our crutches are what keep us from our full potential. His character relied on several crutches: food, beer, and swearing. It is not that we need these crutches to make it through life. These are the things that hold us back. It is not their nature to hold us back, but it is our nature as humans to use them for that purpose.

You see, with this vast potential in each of us, a great deal ought to be required of us. When we find out someone is a genius, we expect great things from them. When we find someone who is incredibly athletic, we expect them to set records. However, we all have this potential in us. Not for sports or academics necessarily, but for something. We all have a skill, some of us have more, but we all have them, and we could all excel. But our nature is to be lazy. The only obstacle limiting human potential is our own penchant for laziness. You see, if someone saw our potential, they would expect more from us. If we threw down our crutches, people would know we were not weak. But instead, we hold on to them. We clutch our crutches so that no one knows we are lazy. They will just think we are weak, and excuse us from our responsibility. Nothing amazing will be expected, because no one will ever know how amazing we really are, not even ourselves. You have potential. Throw off the devices of the sluggard, and reach for it.