Life Lesson From Rudyard Kipling

The individual in pursuit of self education (the only education that'll give you all you ultimately desire), is forever searching out new materials. We scurry around snatching up books and articles as Pac Man snatches up energy dots. I, of course, don't have to tell you about that, because if you're reading this article you are in the process of an information feeding frenzy.

I've found that many times we overlook (keeping with the Pac Man theme) highly valued fruit while devouring lesser valued "dots". Make a mental note to check out more "classical" writings in your daily reading routine. You'll be, er, all the wiser for it.

Here's a wonderful place to start. The classic poem "IF" by Rudyard Kipling. Oddly enough, I've always associated this poem with Bugs Bunny. (Are you laughing at me??) He gave a recitation once in an animated interlude.

If you can silence your inner Bugs while reading this beautiful poem, I'm certain you'll benefit from the words. Read it through once at a regular pace, then go back and really let the words sink in.

>>>>>>>"IF"<<<<<<<

by Rudyard Kipling

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 of 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, or 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 imposters 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 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!