Today's Words of Encouragement

[pat]

LISTEN TO THE MUSTN'TS

Listens to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DONT'S
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me--
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

Shel Silverstein

Comments

[curiousangel.livejournal.com]

All due respect to Uncle Shelby, but when I see that piece, I think of P.T. Barnum's line -- "There's a sucker born every minute."

It's partly a parent's job to instill that sense of magnificent possibilities in their child, but it's also their job to instill some reality, too. You can have all the imagination and desire in the world, but if you're 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds, you won't be a star in the NFL. Just beacuse you want to make that relationship work doesn't mean that the other person is going to put in the effort necessary to make it happen. I don't care how much you love your guinea pig, it won't live forever.

Sometimes, shit happens to each and every one of us, and it doesn't matter how hard you worked to prevent it or how much you wanted it. Granted, intense imagination and desire and hard work will make a lot of things work out that otherwise might not have... but sometimes it just isn't going to happen. Teach your kids to handle disappointment, to handle adversity, to keep going in the face of troubles, to know the difference between really fucking hard and not possible. Just don't teach them that they can make the truly impossible happen if only they're motivated enough.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Actually, I agree with you. This was not intended for my children but for myself, during a time when NOTHING I want seems possible and the temptation to say "Aw, screw it, why bother" seems overwhelming.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

While I'm all for keeping dreams from going off into the impossible, I'm also very, very angry about people who kill the dreams of children. At people who say, "just live within {these} confines". People who say "settle". I don't like watching people chafing and being horribly unhappy about their circumstances because of continual sensations of wanting more, but I'm also saddened by "never tried for anything but the minimum".

And...if you're 5'8" and 150lbs, but a really, really good kicker...?

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Right on with the Uncle Shelby!

I think, in response to some who prefer to be a bit more realistic, one's dreams and goals should always exceed what is possible. Who wants to actually acheive their dreams, the magic is in the chasing not the apprehending.

[bdot.livejournal.com]

one of my favorite shel silverstein poems! i have a cd of him reading it! and phooy on those who take this poem *too* seriously. it is true...not all things are possible for all people. however, the poem gives hopes and dreams a place to be. all children should be encouraged to explore the possibilities, not just the realities.