Is It OK to be Demanding?

Saw this quote on a Facebook friend's status: 

"Never expect. Never assume. Never ask. And never demand. Just let it be. If it's meant to be, it will happen."

And since there's no better way to start a week than with arguing, I thought of a counterpoint:

From what I've seen in my experience as a journalist and a writer, "just letting it be" doesn't work out great for anyone trying to do anything. What's the point of life without striving to achieve? Achieve great things in you career. Achieve wonderful things for the world. Achieve peace in your family.*

* (Side note: If there's one thing I've noticed in life, it's that no matter how good you have it in the rest of your life, no matter how much ass you're kicking and how many names you're taking, if things aren't good at home, then your whole mind and soul have a very good chance of unraveling.)

If it's meant to be, then make it happen. Make it meant to be. Write that book. Get off your butt and start running and get in shape. Make those calls to sell your product. Set up that meeting with your boss or with a client and give your next great idea a shot. Go to that audition. Write that song. Play that song. Ask that person for that favor. Do that favor for that other person. 

You get the idea: Live in the active, not the passive.

There is one person you should always expect something from, always assume will try their best or be their nicest, always someone of whom you should feel willing to ask much. There is someone from whom you can demand. 

Yeah, God, but that's another conversation. He's not who I'm talking about.

I'm talking about you. Well, really, I'm talking about me. No, wait, you can't demand much of me—but I can demand much of me. 

This making sense? 

You can't always be your best, do your best. You're not perfect. And you know what, that's OK. 

But you can demand your best from yourself. 

Do that, and if something's meant to happen, you will make it happen. 

Oh, and re: God—yeah, demand of Him too, if you like. The Bible says to ask boldly, after all. 

And with that, I say, hope you have a great Monday and a killer week. Carpe diem and rhoncus aliquam.*

* (Not sure if that translated right.)