Sep 162012
Aug 202012
While working on another project I came across the following poem and discovered this is also Guest’s birthday. Couldn’t resist the image. Enjoy.
Oscar Pistorius (Photo credit: Karva Javi)
It Couldn’t Be Done
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.”
Edgar A. Guest, poet, 1881 – 1959
We like SHARING:
Jul 162010
Not long ago, I was talking with a colleague about a challenge she was facing. Over the past year, she had braved a number of different family and financial difficulties and was feeling worn down and tired.
“I know what to do… I just can’t seem to get my ‘positive attitude’ in gear,” she said.
We talked about a few more steps she could take, but I could tell that she was disappointed with my ‘answer.’ I think she wanted a pep talk. But, you know what? Under the circumstances, I didn’t think that she should put on a happy face. In fact, had she not been feeling overwhelmed, I would have been quite concerned about her.
Everyone faces tragedy and adversity from time to time; to deny our feelings in those periods is not all that healthy. In reality, no matter how rotten we feel and how much our friends tell us we’re entitled to feel that way, we still have to go on.
Feelings are not facts and it is not necessary to feel optimistic in order to take action. Or, as my friends in the recovery community say to “do the next right thing.”
I’d like to introduce you to someone else who thinks that way. Paul Boynton has written a lovely little book called Begin With Yes!
Frankly, when I first heard about it, I was not sure what to expect. I was delighted to discover that Paul and I share several beliefs:
* that there is always a solution
*that having questions is a good thing
*that we don’t have to feel ‘positive’ to take a small step in a positive direction. Just begin.
The book is subtitled “the law of attraction meets the law of action.” I like that. And I like Paul. I had hoped to post his video ‘intro’ here to give you a little energy boost but he seems to be having ‘technical issues.’
When they’re resolved, I’ll post the video. Until then, I leave you with an ‘old favorite’ picture.
Do they look alike?
