Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. Several years ago I wrote an article under a different title. Today I feel led to share the content of that article under a different title.
In life we may encounter adversity, failures and setbacks that may leave us wanting to give up on our dreams. Below I would like to share one man’s life time of adversity, failure and setbacks who did not give up on his dreams.
May we also be encouraged to not give up on our dream (s) although we may encounter adversity, failures and setbacks during our life time. May we also continue to forge ahead in the direction of our dream(s).
Posted by Second Chance to Live on August 17, 2010
Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me. Please remember that you are always welcome around my table. Last night I stopped by the martial arts school to see my Sensei – instructor – and to see and say hello to some of the brown and black belts with whom I trained with for 8 years.
I then made the decision to stay for part of the brown and black belt class.
At the beginning of class, Sensei shared something with the students that I want to share with you my friend. May you be encouraged as you read through this article to not give up on your goals, your process, your dreams or your destiny. May the lesson – below – inspire you to keep getting back up no matter how many failures or setbacks that you may experience during your life time.
As Sensei began class he shared a list of set backs and failures that an individual in history experienced during his life time.
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1832 Lost Job and defeated in the state legislature
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1833 Failed in business
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1835 Fiance / sweetheart died
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1836 Had a nervous breakdown
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1836 Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker
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1843 Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress
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1848 Lost re-nomination for Congress
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1849 Rejected for land officer position
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1854 Defeated for U.S. Senate
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1856 Defeated for nomination for Vice President
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1858 Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate
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1860 Elected President (Success)
The above list of set backs and seeming failures are attributed to one of our greatest Presidents in American history. His name is Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln profoundly impacted his generation and generations to come because he made the decision (s) to not allow failures or setbacks to keep him from pursuing his dreams or his destiny. Because of his decision (s) to keep moving forward, freedom has occurred in the lives of many individuals for many generations.
Sensei went on to encourage the students in the class to not give up on their goals – be it advancing to their next belt rank or in another area in their life– even though they may encounter failures or setbacks in the pursuit of those goals.
Abraham Lincoln’s example and Sensei’s lesson inspires both you and I to stay committed to our goals, vision, mission, dreams and destinies — regardless of any adversity, failure (s) or set back (s) that we may experience during our life times. And as Abraham Lincoln brought a freedom to the lives of many individuals, so too will we bring about a freedom — simply by staying committed to our dreams and our destinies regardless of any adversity, failure (s) or setback (s) — to the lives of many individuals in our generation and in generations to come.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon
“We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.” Vince Lombardi
“Our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up.” Craig J.Phillips MRC, BA
“I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” Abraham Lincoln
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