I think I Can

"THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN"

If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you'd like to win, but think you can't It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you've lost, For out in the world we find Success beings with a fellow's will; It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you're outclassed, you are: You've got to think high to rise.

You've got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man, But soon or late the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can.

When I was a school age girl I was obsessed with quotes. I remember collecting them and putting them in a little black 3 ringed binder. I got them from all sorts of places and I'm not sure where I came across this one, but something reminded me of it the other day. I still remember the yellowed 5x7 card it was typed on. Typewriter print. I loved, and really believed in its message. I also love the corresponding book with the post, The Little Engine Who Could. This is one I read to my kids often, and when the get frustrated or whine about there inability to do something I will chant, I think i can I think i can. Very often it works, and they will at least try the task which seems insurmountable. Sometimes they are able to solve their own problem, and others they still need someone to intervene, but the point is they try.

The question I have about this is why as an adult is this harder for me to believe? I mean, I honestly believe in the message and know it is true, but I find myself lacking sufficient faith. What is it about life that makes us cynical, skeptical or a little jaded? How do we take what life hands us and rather than becoming bitter and jaded, use our experiences to be more compassionate, forgiving, and accepting? I guess I've come to the conclusion, we make a choice. We have a choice each day, are we a I think I can train, or an I think I can't? Sometimes I'm both; and I'd guess, we all vacillate with this at times. So here's to making the conscious choice, to see the cup half full, and remember Life is Good. Have you seen this brand? It is a little tree huggerish but I like it. I bought myself a Life is Good Hat in St. George to help me remember, when I forget. Life's Good!

All I need to know...

While I've never read, All I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, I'm convinced it must be true. Since having children I'm convinced all of life's great truths can be summed up with a few children's books. All of the following books are some of my favorites to read with the kids and I think they truly have great meaning and the world would be a better place if we lived by them. So my summation follows:

I always loved this book as a little girl. Helen Keller had such determination and was able to accomplish so much because of it. This is a great lesson for all.

This is a darling book which points out the importance of manners. Manners count and I think they count more than we sometimes realize. The guy who learns good manners is miles ahead of the one who doesn't. As the saying goes, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

I've recently come to the conclusion, if you think you can you can, and if you think you can't this will also be true. I knew this as a child but somewhere in my adult life I forget this. So we try to chant at our house, "I think I can, I think I can."

Life is full of so many things to be experienced. Some not so fun others are great. I love this book and think it teaches a great truth about life.

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I am still amazed at the human body and the amazing systems of checks and balances that make it all work. This reminds me it is important to take care of the body I've been given.

I found this one at Barnes and Noble and it has quickly become maybe my all time favorite. "You need the belief of childhood, the do of youth, and the experience of age." I'm a big dreamer. Sometimes as adults we quit doing this and it is really too bad because you have to dream it before it can be achieved. I'm sure the first person who stated they wanted to go to the moon was thought of as a lonney, but you never know.
I love all of the Value books, this is one of my favorites. Mostly for the same reasons as Dreams.
I like this one cause it toots my own horn. Mom's are great. Peter Pan says: "What makes mother all that they are? You might as well ask what makes a star?" I like this line because that is really how I feel about my mom and motherhood in general.

This is Green Eggs and ham, it is a well loved book at our house and no longer has a cover. I like this because so often in life we don't want to try anything new or venture out. How often would we experience something we loved if we would only be open to a new experience. "Luck favors the prepared mind." --Louis Pasteur I think part of that preparation is having an open mind.