Moment Number 372

July 17th, 2008; 9:42 PM

Current mood:okay

I had a good moment today. After slipping a file back onto my managers desk this afternoon, I found my attention captured by the framed quote he had by his door. The letters were big and green, printed on an old sheet of ivory parchment. And they flowed into one of my most favorite quotes. Words that I have held in my heart. That have helped me rise above the toughest moments of my life. And here they were. On his wall. "It is not the critic who counts..." I'm sure you all have heard it before. At least if you have been reading my posts for a while you have. Or if you like Teddy Roosevelt, as I do.

And so...I figure one more time couldn't hurt right? Good stuff is worth taking into consideration and refreshing it in your memory frequently. I found myself reading the whole thing and really feeling the message in my bones, to my soul. And then he walked in and caught me reading it. It was a little embarrasing but fabulous all at the same time. It turns out, his father gave him that 20 or so years ago. I could tell that those words were deeply meaningfull to him as well. And for a moment there was a connection of the human spirit. It's that little thing that bonds us all together, like an invisible string. I think of that feeling as an invisible yet powerful force in the universe that ties us all together and elevates us. It reminds us that deep inside our hearts and souls we are all simply long lost brothers and sisters. Family. And deeply loved, every one of us. Now maybe that feeling of connectivity and the nobler aspects of human nature are a bit of a stretch for some of you. Especially coming from something as mundane as a framed quote on a wall in an office. But I think that life is seeded with greatness and moments of wonder and connection. All we have to do is be open to it and see the lessons great and small as they come. ....Cooky ramblings I'm sure. Well...I'll stop embarassing myself now, and just leave you with the quote.

       "It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or when the doer of deeds could have done 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 and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worth 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 know neither victory or defeat."~ Theodore Roosevelt