Rudyard Kipling's - IF

I continuously ask myself the question - "Am I spending my time on this planet wisely? Given the tools and resources I have been given, am I using them well, to build something, or build on to something, responsibly?" I went to bed thinking about this and woke up with this poem, my favorite poem, in my head. I hope you enjoy it.....

Rudyard Kipling's - 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 DisasterAnd treat those two impostors just the same;If you can bear to hear the truth you've spokenTwisted 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 beginningsAnd never breathe a word about your loss;If you can force your heart and nerve and sinewTo serve your turn long after they are gone,And so hold on when there is nothing in youExcept 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 minuteWith 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!

(but of course I would change another ending, "You will be a woman, my daughter")

In 'googling' for a cool image I came upon this blogsite as my first hit. I just claimed another sister. Her blog theme "Find the Good. Be Inspired" - that is what we all need to continuously do. Have a GREAT Day.

PS - I just noticed that this was my 300 th post!!!! Another reason to celebrate.