My thoughts this month rest on the reflection of the past year and the projection to the year ahead. To find ammunition for my column, I reread a book titled, "A Hero in Every Heart" by Jackson Brown and Robyn Spizman. We admire heroes, so it makes sense to me to share some of their philosophy with you.
• Courage is not defined by those who fought and did not fall, but by those who fought, fell, and rose again.
• Life doesn't require that we be the best, only that we try our best.
• Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.
• Pursue perfection, but accept excellence.
• Nothing is so potent as the silent influence of a good example.
• May our adversities make us strong. May our victories make us wise. May our actions make us proud.
• You can't stuff a great life into a small dream.
• People who accomplish big things did small things well.
• Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.
• Those who strive to be above average soon are.
• Winners are like biscuits?when things heat up, they rise to the occasion.
• Better to be three hours too soon than one minute too late.
• No man who is occupied in doing a very difficult thing, and doing it very well , ever loses his self-respect.
• Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later, the man who wins is the one who thinks he can.
• The biggest gap in the world is between "I should" and "I did."
I will end this column with one of my favorite Ronald Reagan quotes:
"Some people spend their whole lives wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." OORAH!!!