Marching On...

 “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

—Theodore Roosevelt

I found this inspiring quote again when I was reading Dr. Hardy's Book Be Your Future Self Now.  I was aware of the quote yet finding it again reinvigorated my deep desire to become a professional writer.  I mean, I have tiptoed into the arena when I restarted my blogging recently, right?

I must admit this quote means different things to different people.  For those of you who braved to start a family, I am sure it captures the mental fortitude you had to develop to meet the challenges of raising a family.  Bringing children into the world, nurturing them, worrying about getting them the education that gives them headstarts in life, the joys, the sadness, the worries...the list is endless.  You have tasted your shares of victories and defeat "so that [your] place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

On a personal level, however, the quote fits my present journey towards becoming a full-fledged professional writer.  I must embrace the challenges and keep forward, with full knowledge that I will taste the bitterness of defeat along the way.  I pray my efforts will be rewarding; however, accepting the struggle by stepping into the arena was and is the most important milestone in this journey.