This is a very useful essay, especially in these times of hypersensitivity. How much of the rage and angst we see around us is unpreparedness meeting real life, the thing you warn against? Kids raised to believe the world will bend to their will when the world has plans of its own.
I am very impressed if these are lessons you are imparting on your children. I'd be interested to see your take on the outcome of persistence, namely resilience. A trait in very short supply these days.
This is a very useful essay, especially in these times of hypersensitivity. How much of the rage and angst we see around us is unpreparedness meeting real life, the thing you warn against? Kids raised to believe the world will bend to their will when the world has plans of its own.
I am very impressed if these are lessons you are imparting on your children. I'd be interested to see your take on the outcome of persistence, namely resilience. A trait in very short supply these days.
This seems to be one of the lessons being lost, that sometimes, you just need to take it on the chin, learn and keep going. Thanks for writing!
It Couldn’t Be Done
BY EDGAR ALBERT GUEST
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.