Writers
Poetry Conversations:
If—
By Gloria Gaither
Watch and listen as Gloria Gaither (a former high school English teacher) and Andy Andrews (a former high school poetry hater) discuss Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If—.” This incredible piece touches on humility, patience, arrogance, triumph, disasters, and begs the question, are you as comfortable and real everywhere in your life—from one place to another?
"If—" by Rudyard Kipling
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 impostors 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 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 beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To 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!
My Method for Growing in Gratefulness
Ever feel like life’s challenges pull you down before the day even begins? Andy Andrews shares a simple but powerful habit that can shift your...
What Was Dr. Seuss Doing During World War II?
Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was an editorial cartoonist from 1941 to 1943, creating over 400 political cartoons during World...
The Rhino Who Became Governor
Charge into a tale so bizarre it could only be true: a rhinoceros named Cacareco wins an election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, making political history....
The Day Before The Night Before Christmas
In this celestial narrative, archangels Michael and Gabriel plan a grand event for Jesus’ birth, only to learn from God that the celebration...
The Greatest Teacher in the World
Never in my life had I encountered such beauty. Her perfect face, framed by long, blond hair, featured the most incredible green eyes I had ever...
1.4 How to Accept Responsibility Like Harry Truman
Learn an invaluable lesson about the attitude it takes to start changing now by examining the life of President Harry Truman.
0 Comments