Are You on the Sidelines of Life or in the Arena Daring Greatly?

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of 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, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy 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 neither know victory nor defeat.”  Teddy Roosevelt

Life is not meant to be lived from the sidelines.  It’s certainly not intended to be lived in the shadows of criticism, mocking those who are willing and attempting to live their life with enthusiasm, even if it entails mistakes and failure.

There is courage is trying, attempting and failing.  There is none in choosing to be a perpetual cynic, inwardly hoping for others to falter so there is reason to mock and ridicule. For it is only then that the small-minded can feel “good” about themselves.

But there is no victory in celebrating others’ failures.  These are the cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Today, be one who is in the arena, daring greatly, striving persistently in the direction of your dreams.  Seize the day and live it to the fullest.