# Arete *Arete (ἀρετή) is an ancient Greek concept denoting "excellence" or "virtue" in its highest form, representing the full realization of potential or inherent function in a person or thing* A couple years ago the most powerful thing on my mind was that I *must* become a great artist. And that ambition withered away, oddly, as I began to recover and heal and transform post-trauma. What the hell? How could healing draw me away from my ambition? I mediate on this today and realize that my pursuit was for the wrong reasons. I was pursuing excellence in my work only as an antidote to existential loneliness. I did not want to feel like *nothing.* I don't often feel like *nothing* anymore and have a much healthier relationship with myself. But I did not expect this to erode my desire for greatness. So today I throw a dart forward into fate and search for other reasons to pursue excellence. Because, if anything, I'm curious about my potential. *Arete!*