Monday, January 12, 2009

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 imposters 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 wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on 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 And 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.

ANONYMOUS

DON says: An inspirational piece, and thought provoking. Particularly relevant to the recovering alcoholic. Coming out of the boozy world of alcoholism, one must face his own character and how he or she has coped with life.

In the world of drinking, one makes decisions that may become the wrong ones. What does the alcoholic do when they realize that they made a bad decision? They go back to the bottle to soothe their fears and trepidations, and when well sedated, gloss over the problem, and dismiss any backlash or consequence They are sure the that the alcohol will solve everything, even if it only covers up things in the short run. It takes guts to face up to our frailities, but it must be done if we are to be successful in fighting and winning against our alcoholism.

No comments: