IF…

Today, I had a lenghty discussion with a lady. We had talked a number of times. I had been on the recieving end of her thoughts, ideas and passions, even though we had never met. I saw her for the first time today, no!, not in the flesh, on yahoo :). Strange world, you can talk to someone, see the person, share ideas, laugh together, plan ahead, without haven met. Back in the days, if you sat and spoke about it, the world would fear that you were going mad. Today, it’s only natural.

As I paid close attention to the details of her life, quizing her on to get something motivating and inspiring for you to read (Watch out for her Interview), little did I know that the interview was more than just for you, but even me as well.

When I asked her for her parting shot, she asked me to google “Poem If”. I did, and must have read it so many times since. It was the work of Rudyard Kiplin – IF. I have a copy of it for you down here. Read it, digest it, and read it again. It’s a master piece. She gave me the gift of this poem, I’m giving it to you too. There is however something I got from it, that you can’t be given, you only have to get it too.

I remembered! Can you think back now, and conciously think about things you used to do so well that you suddenly stopped? Can you remember things that make you wonder why you left so much potential hanging? Some things ought to be written down and pasted all over your room, so you don’t forget. I remembered my love for poetry -writing, reading and sharing.

I also remembered, that the words we speak and write today, could be the master pieces of tomorrow. We must daily perfect our acts, for words spoken with pen or with action are the masterpieces of years ahead. In the words of shakespear, action is eloquence.

I read the life history of the author, saw that the poem presently holds the world record of being the most reprinted poem in more anthologies than any other. I remembered that some of the best that history has produced where not rated as best by the best. Patience and persistence score a lot more points than skill.

Before you get restless…please read this poem, it’s the kind of poem you print and keep close to where your eyes can see.

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 is your take on this piece…do you have any of such genius in you? Don’t take your gift to the grave. Let us have it!