It’s a long way the sea-winds blow
Over the sea-plains blue,—
But longer far has my heart to go
Before its dreams come true.
It’s work we must, and love we must,
And do the best we may,
And take the hope of dreams in trust
To keep us day by day.
It’s a long way the sea-winds blow—
But somewhere lies a shore—
Thus down the tide of Time shall flow
My dreams forevermore.
O Hope! into my darkened life
Thou hast so oft’ descended;
My helpless head from failure’s blows,
Thou also hast defended;
When circumstances hard, and mean,
Which I could not control,
Did make me bow my head with shame,
Thou comforted my soul.
When stumbling blocks lay all around,
And when my steps did falter,
Then did thy sacred fires burn
Upon my soul’s high altar.
Oft’ was my very blackest night
Scarce darker than my day,
But thou dispelled those clouds of doubt,
And cheered my lonely way.
E’en when I saw my friends forsake,
And leave me for another,
Then thou, O Hope, didst cling to me
Still closer than a brother;
Thus with thee near I groped my way
Through that long, gloomy night
Till now; yes, as I speak, behold,
I see the light! the light!
I’m sitting at my desk at 7:45 a.m. and across the way workers are putting a new roof on a neighbor’s home. The roofers got an early start because the high today will be 103 F (39.44 C). The neighbors are taking steps to replace a worn roof before the stormy season hits. It’s the same way with us. We don’t know when our stormy season will hit, but it will. We can take steps to ensure that we are strong, resilient and ready to handle any challenge. We can rate ourselves on the following scale from 1 to 5. One being low, 5 being high.
When you finish review your scores, you’ll know where to improve to meet the challenges of your stormy season.
In today’s post I begin sharing my thoughts as I read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay, Self Reliance. Self Reliance can be downloaded for free at qutenbern.org under the titleEssays by Ralph Waldo Emerson. According the American Poetry Foundation, “Emerson New was a England preacher, essayist, lecturer, poet, and philosopher—was one of the most influential writers and thinkers of the 19th century in the United States.”
In his work, Self Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson writes, “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, —that is genius.” P. 110
NOTE: Emerson encourages us to believe in the wisdom of our thoughts. It’s the intuitive sense that assesses the thought and instinctively knows that this thought is the right path. Once our instinct is screaming at us, it us up to us to act upon it. I recall, during my time in academia, searching for a methodology that would benefit one of my doctoral students. I stumbled (or was it serendipity) across a methodology called appreciative inquiry. It made all the difference for my student. And, it made all the difference for me. I made the methodology the central piece of all my research.
In her work, Optimism, Helen Keller writes, ““Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope. . . . “Optimism is the harmony between man’s spirit and the spirit of God pronouncing His works good.” Pps. 47, 62
NOTE: When we link what we are doing to a higher purpose we are filled to overflowing with optimism. We know, that despite the challenges we face, the setbacks we encounter, that we will triumph in the end. I daily witness examples of this optimistic spirit. I see it at the gym where amputees exercise with the vigor and vitality of a healthy twenty year old. I see it in the faces and actions of ordinary people who experienced tragedy and keep on going believing they still have work to do. Optimistic people are hope-filled people.
In her work, Optimism, Helen Keller writes, “No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit. . . . “the optimist believes, attempts, achieves. He stands always in the sunlight. Some day the wonderful, the inexpressible, arrives and shines upon him, and he is there to welcome it. His soul meets his own and beats a glad march to every new discovery, every fresh victory over difficulties, every addition to human knowledge and happiness.” Pps. 39, 40, 41.
NOTE: When we discard thoughts of the impossible, hate, and fear, and open our eyes and hearts to believing everything is possible, we have an optimistic heart. We have a heart overflowing with joy and love knowing that our path forward will shine a light in the darkness and light the way for others. We know that each day we will make a difference and the world will be better because we live to make each moment better.
In her work, Optimism, Helen Keller writes, ““If I regarded my life from the point of view of the pessimist, I should be undone. I should seek in vain for the light that does not visit my eyes and the music that does not ring in my ears. I should beg night and day and never be satisfied. I should sit apart in awful solitude, a prey to fear and despair. But since I consider it a duty to myself and to others to be happy, I escape a misery worse than any physical deprivation.” P. 29
NOTE: Each day when we wake we are faced with a choice: Do I choose to believe the best about people and life; or, do I choose to believe the worst about people and life. For me, it’s been a no-brainer. Each morning I wake and announce out loud, ‘I am going to have a great day.’ Then I set myself off to prove I am right. I have many more wins in my column than losses. What we’re searching for, we usually find. Why not search for what is good? Why not believe it is out there waiting for you to pick it up? It is.
Ernest Shakleton
