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The Man In the Arena
Don’t read this if you are one of the critics.
Because Roosevelt was right.
It’s not the critics who count.
Not the person who constantly points out what you’ve done wrong, or what you could have done better. It’s not the person who makes you feel inferior.
No, they don’t matter.
You. You are the one that matters.
Why?
Easy.
You are the one that cares.
You are the one that puts themselves ‘out there’. Vulnerable, often on your own. Taking risks.
You’re the one ‘who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood’.
You’re the one that tries – again and again, because you believe.
You the one that keeps going, often against all the odds and the challenges that life throws your way.
You are the one that fails, but who constantly gets back up again no matter how tired you are.
You’re the one that knows that you need to keep going because to change your life and your little corner of the universe, you have to accept that it isn’t going to be perfect all of the time.
Yes, You.
You are the one that matters.
You are the one that wants to make things better, to fix the problems, to create a future.
You’re the one prepared to take the risks, who at the same time fears failure and letting people down, but who knows that not to take that chance is simply not an option.
You are the one, the optimist of humanity.
You’re the one that dreams of making a difference, of being better, of being part of a greater whole.
You are the one who knows that failure is only a step away, yet, you are the one who keeps on going.
Because you know it matters because it’s better to fail and run that risk,
Than to live a life, sitting amongst the critics.
Yes, YOU matter.
YOU are the one the counts.
Theodore Roosevelt, The Man in the Arena
Inspired by Theodore Roosevelt, The Man in the Arena
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