
It takes a lifetime to build a tradition.
Failure is success if we learn from it.
Mario Andretti (born 1940) is an American race car driver. Now retired, his career is one of the most successful in all of auto racing.

It takes a lifetime to build a tradition.
Failure is success if we learn from it.
Mario Andretti (born 1940) is an American race car driver. Now retired, his career is one of the most successful in all of auto racing.

Faith gives you an inner strength and a sense of balance and perspective in life.
You have to dream, you have to have a vision, and you have to set a goal for yourself that might even scare you a little.
Gregory Peck (1916-2003) was an American actor and social activist. He received an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in 1963 for his portrayal of Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Childhood dreams
Goals undefined
Future’s clarity
Waiting, to be defined
Youthful path
Faithful seeds sowed
Love’s tenderness cares
Waiting, harvest so proud
Days lengthen
Filled with hope’s gifts
Efforts bring rewards
Waiting, actions upshift
Tomorrow
Life’s follow-through
Strength in discipline
Waiting, lasting breakthrough
Leaving home
Granted access
Past always teaching
Recipe for success


Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal.
A goal isn’t something you just arrive at and stop. You have to stay curious and hungry.
Mario Andretti (born 1940) is an American race car driver. Now retired, his career is one of the most success in all of auto racing.

The team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.
Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed.
Mia Hamm (born 1972) is an American professional soccer player. She played on teams who captured two Olympic gold medals as well as two World Cup championships. She was a member of the U.S. national team from 1987 to 2004.

There is no finish line. When you reach a goal, find a new one.
A lot of times people look at the negative side of what they feel they can’t do. I always look on the positive side of what I can do.
Chuck Norris (born 1940) is an American actor and martial artist. After serving in the United States Air Force, he won numerous championships in martial arts competitions. Later, he becomes a highly successful actor in film and television.
This poem is inspired by a song which has been sung by many artists. Bobby Darin and later Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded their versions of “If I Were a Carpenter.” The song was written by Tim Hardin, and other artists have recorded and performed the song as well. Here is Bobby Darin’s version: “If I Were a Carpenter.”

Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com
If I was a teacher
Bringing energy, passion, and patience
Showcasing learning as school’s top feature
If I was a firefighter
Serving with unselfish duty and pride
Protecting all, making worries lighter
If I was an architect
Designing buildings for many uses
Looking ahead to challenging projects
If I was a farmer
Rising at dawn, working until sundown
Bringing a nation food, as God’s armor
If I was a nurse
Sharing with patient, compassionate care
Filling lives with hope, never for the worse
If I was a writer
Crafting words into stories and much more
Witnessing through eyes, open and brighter
If I was a musician
Creating good vibes through words and music
Entertaining songs’ perfect rendition
If I was a preacher
Instilling God’s Word within a church’s flock
Encouraged to be one of God’s teachers
If I was a soldier
Preserving peace and freedom in the world
Band of brothers, stand shoulder to shoulder
If I was a young tyke
Looking up to these inspiring adults
Growing up, each day feeling more alike

Photo by Wendy Wei on Pexels.com
Originally published March, 2020.

Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.
No man can cause more grief than that one clinging blindly to the vices of his ancestors.
William Faulkner (1897-1962) was an American writer of novels and short stories. Much of his writing is set in the state of Mississippi where he lived most of his entire life. His writings were highly recognized as he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949 as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1955 and 1963.

The best feeling in the world is seeing the benefits and rewards of hard work.
The only time you should look back in life, is to see how far you have come.
Kevin Hart (born 1979) is an American comedian and actor. He identifies himself as a Christian and opening talks about his faith.

Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it.
It is not failure itself that holds you back; it is the fear of failure that paralyzes you.