Things that inspire me...
Over the past few years I have drawn inspiration from some great stories I have read, quotes, poems and, especially, people I have come across. Here are a few:
'We all have dreams, but in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self=discipline and effort.' Jesse Owens.
'Try?
Do or do not.
There is no try.' - Yoda
'A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more.' Steve Prefontaine (US runner in 1980s)
'And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us' - Hebrews 12:1
'All men die, but not all men live.' José María Olazábal after winning the Ryder Cup 2012
'Never give up. And smile.' Inscription on bracelet of Chrissie Wellington - 4 times World Ironman Champion
IF
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 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
What has inspired you? Please get in touch and share with me.
'We all have dreams, but in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self=discipline and effort.' Jesse Owens.
'Try?
Do or do not.
There is no try.' - Yoda
'A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more.' Steve Prefontaine (US runner in 1980s)
'And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us' - Hebrews 12:1
'All men die, but not all men live.' José María Olazábal after winning the Ryder Cup 2012
'Never give up. And smile.' Inscription on bracelet of Chrissie Wellington - 4 times World Ironman Champion
IF
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 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
What has inspired you? Please get in touch and share with me.
