‘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 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 all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath 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 (1865-1936)
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A strong, clear, perceptive thought to share, with a really fabulous photo.
Last night, I was philosophying to my young friend about the nature of elasticity & rigidity in life, people. And the need, as with everything, for balance. The image of that anchor, steadfast, unbreakable, is exactly the kind of rigidity that we need. Inflexibility is not the same thing at all. The anchor represents the permanence that we want…While the wind around it can carry away the old, or bring in the new, for better and for worse, which is the harvest of life.
Now, I’ll face the translat. knowing that I also have a 2-hour private class to give here in 75 mins’ time.
Sweetness to you
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Of course there is always the other version…sadly followed by many in this cut throat world we live in;
If you can get yourself a fancy title,
Though no one knows just what your job’s about,
If you can screw up projects that are vital,
Then shift the blame before they find you out;
If you can treat a rival like a brother,
Then stab him in the back each chance you can;
If you can steal the program of another,
Then take the credit that it was your plan;
If you can rig expenses that are phony,
While everyone believes that they are real;
If you can take long lunches with a crony,
And make your boss believe you’ve closed a deal;
If you can get the office staff to love you,
When in your heart of hearts you think they’re dirt;
If you can look alive to those above you,
When nine to five no effort you exert;
If you can seem free-thinking and courageous,
Yet always end up siding with your boss;
If you can get a mammoth raise in wages,
Yet make him feel you’re working at a loss;
If every line that’s written here you’ve noted,
And every rule and precept you obey,
Then to the highest spot you’ll be promoted,
Unless, of course, you’re knifed along the way.
~by Frank Jacobs~
RX
Stewart,
I really enjoyed what you wrote, BALANCE thats a very important word.
Another busy day, hope it all goes well for you
XXXAuds
Ruth,
Ive not seen this one before, I had a wry smile as it reminded me of certain aspects of my workplace at the moment, mind you I had to laugh at the final line…May just pin it to the notice board for the team to read…lol
Hope you had a lovely weekend xxxx Auds
Small guy,nice blog,great job,hope i will see your work soon.