The hope of something great

Update: 6/1/08

The version of the poem I used in my original post was found on the web through a google search. I have this poem on the bulletin board above my desk. When I read it the evening after I posted it, I realized that the version I have and love is slightly different. So I have updated it below.

Also, I realized after receiving a comment that I left someone off my dedication list. My brother Jimmy is going through some pretty big changes right now and I should have dedicated it to him, as well. So to Jimmy, anything is possible.

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This morning after the alarm went off I spent a few minutes lying in bed not wanting to get up. The quietness of the morning was perfect for thinking and this morning I thought about changes. I seem to have quite a few people in my life that are dealing with major life changes right now. Change can be a scary thing, but it can also be a time of great promise and excitement if we face it with the right attitude.

"The start of something new, brings the hope of something great."

Those words have be resonating in my brain all day. I originally heard them as part of the saying that appears below and they have always rung true for me. So to my friends who are facing life changes, more specifically, Barb, Deede, Laurie, Christy, Kipp and Christina, I dedicate this to you.

If there was ever a time to dare,
to make a difference, to embark on something worth doing,
it is now.
Not for any grand cause, necessarily--
but for something that tugs at your heart,
something that's your inspiration,
something that's your dream.

You owe it to yourself
to make your days here count.
Have fun.
Dig deep.
Stretch.

Dream Big.

Know, though, that things worth doing
seldom come easy.
There will be good days.
And there will be bad days.
There will be times when you want to turn around,
pack it up,
and call it quits.
Those times tell you
that you are pushing yourself,
that you are not afraid to learn by trying.

Persist.

Because with an idea,
determination,
and the right tools,
you can do great things.
Let your instincts,
your intellect,
and your heart,
guide you.

Trust.

Believe in the incredible power of the human mind.
Of doing something that makes a difference.
Of working hard.
Of laughing and hoping.
Of lazy afternoons.
Of lasting friends.
Of all the things that will cross your path this year.

The start of something new
brings the hope of something great,
Anything is possible.
There is only one you.
And you will pass this way only once.
Do it right.

-Author Unknown