If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
-- Rudyard Kipling
This has always been one of my favorite poems because I think I really love the challenge it presents. Kipling is daring us to be great, to think big, to live bravely. There are many people who are afriad of that challenge -- who are content to dwell in mediocrity, never defying convention, never endeavoring for growth and change.
The people who aren't are something special.
I gave this poem to my friend, Kyle, when we graduated from college because he's someone who doesn't back away from the challenge. Kyle is one of those people who has a good head on his shoulders, and more importantly, a great heart. I have been extremely fortunate to have found friends who fit that description: Brendan, Kelly, Jason, Kerry ... the list goes on.
And they are blessings in myriad ways, but especially because their own strong values encourage me to keep my own in check, and because they continually reinforce the lessons I learned from my parents about how to treat others, how to believe in yourself, and how to maintain high standards for yourself and your life.
In an age where so many young people veer off of their paths, distracted by alochol, drugs, sex, violence and detrimental behaviors, it is increasingly important to surround yourself with truly great people.
I'm lucky. I have amazing parents. They have made me the person I am today.
And I'm lucky, because now that I'm an adult and my parents are a little more removed from my everyday decisions, I have truly amazing friends who keep me on the right track. Who I can talk to about anything and everything. Who love me and support me and make allowances for my shortcomings. And who help me learn and grow from them.
In some ways, this poem has become a kind of barometer against which I measure the people in my life. There are those who step up to the plate, ready to accept the challenge to be a better person. There are those who aren't quite there yet.
But, it seems that the ones who get it have been around for awhile: through really great times and really crappy times. And if they haven't run away scared yet, I think there's a pretty good chance that they'll stick around. I anticipate that they will always be in my life. I certainly hope so.
"Over the course of the average lifetime you meet a lot of people. Some of them stick with you through thick and thin. Some weave their way through your life and disappear forever. But once in a while someone comes along who earns a permanent place in your heart.” -- The Wonder Years
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
-- Rudyard Kipling
This has always been one of my favorite poems because I think I really love the challenge it presents. Kipling is daring us to be great, to think big, to live bravely. There are many people who are afriad of that challenge -- who are content to dwell in mediocrity, never defying convention, never endeavoring for growth and change.
The people who aren't are something special.
I gave this poem to my friend, Kyle, when we graduated from college because he's someone who doesn't back away from the challenge. Kyle is one of those people who has a good head on his shoulders, and more importantly, a great heart. I have been extremely fortunate to have found friends who fit that description: Brendan, Kelly, Jason, Kerry ... the list goes on.
And they are blessings in myriad ways, but especially because their own strong values encourage me to keep my own in check, and because they continually reinforce the lessons I learned from my parents about how to treat others, how to believe in yourself, and how to maintain high standards for yourself and your life.
In an age where so many young people veer off of their paths, distracted by alochol, drugs, sex, violence and detrimental behaviors, it is increasingly important to surround yourself with truly great people.
I'm lucky. I have amazing parents. They have made me the person I am today.
And I'm lucky, because now that I'm an adult and my parents are a little more removed from my everyday decisions, I have truly amazing friends who keep me on the right track. Who I can talk to about anything and everything. Who love me and support me and make allowances for my shortcomings. And who help me learn and grow from them.
In some ways, this poem has become a kind of barometer against which I measure the people in my life. There are those who step up to the plate, ready to accept the challenge to be a better person. There are those who aren't quite there yet.
But, it seems that the ones who get it have been around for awhile: through really great times and really crappy times. And if they haven't run away scared yet, I think there's a pretty good chance that they'll stick around. I anticipate that they will always be in my life. I certainly hope so.
"Over the course of the average lifetime you meet a lot of people. Some of them stick with you through thick and thin. Some weave their way through your life and disappear forever. But once in a while someone comes along who earns a permanent place in your heart.” -- The Wonder Years
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