Time Marches On

Posted on April 15, 2008
Filed Under personal development

I really like this line from Rudyard Kipling’s poem, If

“If you can fill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run ”

Each minute in our life IS unforgiving. It goes whether we want it to, or not. Each minute gathers into hours, hours into days and days into your lifetime. Where we are today, WHO we are today, is the sum total of those seconds and unforgiving minutes spent. Who we will be is the sum total of the seconds and minutes we are spending now.

And that is why we must spend each minute with sixty seconds of distance run. Kipling didn’t say 60 seconds of frantic sprint. For me distance run means measured, consistent effort. Not each and every minute of course, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. But in order to become the person we want to be, there must be consistent effort - this is what personal development is all about.

TAGS: personal development, rudyard kipling, lifetime

“If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream — and not make dreams your master; If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings — nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run — Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And — which is more — you’ll be a Man, my son!”

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Comments

4 Responses to “Time Marches On”

Life Coaching Melbourne on May 31st, 2008 1:39 pm

That’s absolutely beautiful and true too. Believe it if you need it, leave it if you dare! Great insight!
shenzee on June 26th, 2008 2:31 am

Believing in yourself takes a lot of courage. Believing in God makes life easier… nice thoughts you have here..
Jass on July 8th, 2008 2:51 am

Its beautiful… makes me realize life’s worth…
Sydney Life Coach on July 16th, 2008 3:39 am

Making most of our time in our daily lives makes us feel fulfilled. No hour, nor minute, nor second is ever wasted.