In uncertain times, we need to get to the basics.
I was very touched by this poem today. (Thanks Robin Marie!)? I wanted to share it with you.
Thursday Thirteen #44 – Thirteen Ifs
If you 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 or talk to wise;
If you can dream – and make those 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 beat 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 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 one 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 an everything that’s in it.
-Rudyard Kipling
Happy Thursday!
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I LOVE this! Thanks for sharing it with us. Happy T13!
I learned this poem in sixth grade. It resonated with me then. It still resonates with me.
Like Adelle, I simply adore it.
…and you’ll be a man, my son.
Thanks for sharing…love it.
You have made a horrible day so worthwhile…..again.
Rudyard FTW.
Adelle – Yeah, it seemed like a good day for it!
Susan Helen Gottfried – I’m delighted, Susan
Nicholas – Yeah, I left that off – maybe it’s a human?
Julie –
CEO – I’m sorry you had a tough day! ((hug))
GDaybloke – Amazing, eh?
I’ve always liked this poem. It really has a great message.
Love this poem….
and may I add…If you keep a positive outlook. this trip will happen….whether you want it to or not. Keep the faith in yourself!
Now thats a list that makes you think! Happy TT my friend:)
Nice. Definitely worth several re-reads.
An excellent list, good to aspire to, pretty much impossible to fully attain!
I used to have that poem on my bedroom door in High School. It is well worth remembering.
Happy TT!
GREAT poem.
I really like Invictis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invictus
Yay for Kipling. Happy TT.
Great poem. Very inspirational. Thanks for sharing!
I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough day. This is a great list! I hope you have a better day tomorrow, I will try to keep you entertained!
Happy TT!
Some great ifs there. Excellent.
Lots to think about there. Good stuff Claudia.
That’s very inspiring!
perfect, love this. and that is why i run
I hadn’t read this before, and once again I love discovering why one of the masters of his art form is considered to be so.
Thanks for sharing the poem and giving me something to ponder.
Great list!
That’s such a wonderful, inspiring poem. Thanks for reminding me of it!
Hi Claudia,
If all else fails I go out in nature and let the trees, sky, and butterflies bring me back down to earth. Maybe say my mantra.
Another thing is to smile. Your body doesn’t care or know if it’s a real smile or not and just starts to set off the good chemicals. Fake it to make it true.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing it and happy TT
Ps: For Every day kindness can you change my link to the new url when you have a moment. I am here now
http://urbanzoo.suedarroch.com/
Thank you
What a fantastic poem. I truly enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing. Happy TT!
I love that poem.
Very nice poem. Thanks for sharing it, and thanks for stopping by my blog.
Such a lovely and beautiful poem. My TT this is week is about the 13 Myths of Sarah Palin
I’ve never been a Kipling fan–until now. These lines are great:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds? worth of distance run,
So much of the world can be gained in this minute.
Thank you so much for sharing this
Happy TT!
IF – a very big word, isn’t it?
Thank you. I’d forgotten how much I loved Kipling.
You make me ashamed I was only concerned with my stomach when I posted Links to 13 of my favorite Tiny Food Recipes and free recipe cards – Tiny Food is my name for appetizers and finger foods!
Happy TT!
I love this poem. It is probably my favorite poem ever. I had it memorized years ago just because I think it is a nice way to measure a good person.
Thanks for the reminder.
-Rob
Thanks for sharing that poem. Made a very nice Thursday Thirteen.
Also thanks for visiting my blog.
I have limited exposure to poetry but this has been a favorite since childhood.
This was cool. I esp. liked the line about treating Triumph and Disaster as the same.
Quite the man, that Kipling. Think of the challenges he had to endure in life, starting with being named Rudyard Kipling.