Hi,
Welcome to another Wisdom Bits episode.
Today we've got something that can give us a little food for thought.
It's a poem.
A poem that makes us think.
We've got a poem on discipline.
Personal discipline.
It's by Edgar Allen Guest and is called On Quitting.
How much grit do you think you've got?
Can you quit a thing that you like a lot?
You may talk of pluck.
It's an easy word.
And where'er you go,
It is often heard.
But can you tell to a jot or guess just how much courage you now possess?
You may stand to trouble and keep your grin,
But have you tackled self-discipline?
Have you ever issued commands to you to quit the things that you like to do?
And then,
When tempted and sorely swayed,
Those rigid orders have you obeyed.
Don't boast of your grit till you tried it out,
Nor pray to men of your courage stout.
For it's easy enough to retain a grin.
In the face of a fight,
There's a chance to win.
But the sort of grit that is good to own is the stuff you need when you're all alone.
How much grit do you think you've got?
Can you turn from joys that you like a lot?
Have you ever tested yourself to know how far with yourself your will can go?
If you want to know if you have grit,
Just pick out a joy that you like and quit.
It's bully sport and it's open fight.
It'll keep you busy both day and night.
For the toughest kind of game you'll find is to make your body obey your mind.
And you never know what is meant by grit unless there's something you've tried to quit.
And that was the poem On Quitting by Edgar Allen Guest.
It's true,
Isn't it?
Easy to forget,
Easy to let go of something that you don't want.
But if you try to discipline yourself,
To give up something that you really like,
Even for a bit,
It's real hard.
Find that grit.
Find the discipline.
Give it a try.
And that's it for today.
Bye for now.
Stay safe,
Stay well.
