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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 11 (June 1, 1930)

The “All-Round” Girl

page 61

The “All-Round” Girl

To-day, in this age of competition and perfection, the more things you can do the better. And it is not enough to be able to do something “fairly well”—you must be good—you must excel. “What are you going to do,” you answer, if you are only mediocre at everything?—if you are one of those who seem only to be able to jog along the middle path? Perhaps
A Budding Railway Business Agent. Master Freddie Dagger, Island Bay, Wellington, whose miniature locomotive features the slogan “Patronize the N.Z. Railways.”

A Budding Railway Business Agent.
Master Freddie Dagger, Island Bay, Wellington, whose miniature locomotive features the slogan “Patronize the N.Z. Railways.”

you are a typiste, quite good, but not excellent. You can cook “a bit”; you can sew “after a fashion;” you are not bad at tennis, and people have said that you have “rather a sweet voice.” So many of us are like that—we aren't brilliant at anything—and the chances are that we never will be.

We watch with envy and admiration those gifted individuals who seem to be able to do everything with little effort and tremendous effect. “They are born like that,” you answer. “As for me. I'm just middling at everything.” That is absolute nonsense. Every living person has some particular gift—some special faculty which enables him to excel beyond his fellows. You may be quite unaware of the existence of your genius. All too often we go right through life unconscious of the little something deep within us which never finds expression. Herein lies the tragedy of thousands of lives, and here is unhappiness. Nothing is more fatal to human well-being than the inability to discover, develop and cultivate our own special talent—which does exist in every one of us. No one is mediocre. That is comforting. You can do something better than others—what is it? Once you have discovered your talent, give it every chance to express itself. Perhaps it is music; perhaps sport; perhaps drama; whatever it may be, cultivate it to the best of your ability and you will find a large measure of happiness.

Do as many things as ever you can—lots of girls nowadays “detest” housework—but they can all do it, and well if they have to. Nothing is beneath doing, try to develop every side of your character and become an “all round” girl—able to do everything—play a game of tennis, work well in the office, cook a good dinner, dance, take a hand at bridge, drive a car—everything! And one thing try to do really well and brilliantly.

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