Get in the arena...

"It's not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how strong the man stumbles, or whether the doer of the deeds could have done them 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; because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

- Theodore Roosevelt


Probably my most favorite quote I have ever read. The power in his words give me chills the way he describes the man in the arena. Whether the man in the arena losses or wins, he gets the credit because he tried. And as the dust, the sweat, and the blood all prove - he gave his all. And that is what matters the most. I feel like a person is a more of winner when they give their all - even to lose - than someone who puts half an effort into something, but still somehow wins the battle. Even if the man in the arena giving his all does lose, he is that much more prepared for the next battle. And when success is finally his, it is that much sweeter because he has tasted the bitterness of defeat.

I have so much respect for people in the world who are fighters. The ones who have dreams and aren't afraid to chase them - to get in the arena and let it be known that this is what they want and then fight for it. It doesn't always work out, of course. Such is life. But that doesn't take one ounce of credit, one ounce of respect, or one ounce of character from the person who was willing to put it all on the line. I don't think it really matters how big or small the "fight" is. It could be a fight to finish school and get an education, no matter how many jobs you need pick up to pay for it. Or no matter how many hours you need to put in to make passing grades. It could be a fight to get out of bed for work when you feel like crap because you know other people are counting on you. Or it could be a fight to put a smile on your face and and cheer someone up who needs it, on a day when you could use some cheering up yourself. Each of these fights and so many other struggles that people might be working through will cause a certain amount of sweat, a little bit of blood, and undoubtedly kick some dust up in ones face. But at least we are in the arena instead of shrinking from the fight. At least we are putting in effort, in stead of deciding the outcome of the battle before we even fight it. When we decide not to try at all we are passing up an opportunity we had to grow a little more, learn a little more, or perhaps even be victorious in a defining battle. This quote makes me think about the times when I've chosen not to enter into the arena...and it inspires me to get in the arena more often to fight for things that I want, and to create more opportunities to become a woman of such a credit that President Roosevelt spoke of, rather than be placed with the "cold and timid souls who never know victory or defeat."