Paddle Your Own Canoe

Voyager upon life's sea,
to yourself be true;
and where're your lot may be,
Paddle your own canoe.

Never, though the winds may rave,
falter nor look back,
but upon the darkest wave
leave a shining track.
Nobly dare the wildest storm,
Stem the hardest gale,
Brave of heart and strong of arm,
you will never fail.
When the world is cold and dark,
Keep an end in view,
And toward the beacon mark
Paddle your own canoe.

Every wave that bears you on
To the silent shore,
From its sunny source has gone
To return no more:
Then let not an hour's delay
Cheat you of your due;
But while it is called to-day,
Paddle your own canoe.

If your birth denied you wealth,
Lofty state, and power,
Honest fame and hardy health
Are a better dower;
But if theirs will not suffice,
Golden gain pursue,
And to win the glittering prize,
Paddle your own canoe.

Would you wrest the wreath of fame
from the hand of Fate?
Would you write a deathless name
with the good and great?
Would you bless your fellowmen?
Heart and soul imbue
with the holy task, and then
Paddle your own canoe.

Would you crush the tyrant Wrong,
in the world's fierce fight?
With a spirit brave and strong,
Battle for the Right;
and to break the chains that bind
The many to the few --
To enfranchise slavish mind,
Paddle your own canoe.

Nothing great is lightly won,
nothing won is lost --
Every good deed nobly done,
Will repay the cost;
Leave to Heaven, in humble trust,
all you will to do;
But if you succeed, you must always
Paddle your own canoe.

-Anonymous

If it is to be, it is upto me! I believe the only common denominator to success is the desire to succeed! If we have the desire to succeed, then we will be willing to go through any circumstance and still win. Now how is this related to "paddling your own canoe"? This is how: If we have the desire to succeed, we will not fall for any circumstance, which means we will take personal responsibilty for our success! Yes, we cannot expect someone else to paddle our canoe! We cannot blame somebody else (or something else) for our inability to paddle our canoe! We have to do the work! Voyages on life's sea cannot be fared on someone else's canoe.

If we know we have the ability to succeed, then we must! The one thing that keeps me going is the fact that I know I can succeed in anything I desire! But knowing is one thing, and reminding oneself about it often is another and then acting on it, is very uncommon. Because, just sitting in our canoe means nothing, paddling it in the right direction is what matters! Lets get it going...

so long!...

-SamCam