Sorry I have been MIA lately, but LIFE happens! As quite a few of us are certainly heading to a horse show or sporting event this weekend, let me quote my most favorite speech of all time, The Man in the Arena. We all may benefit from hearing this before we judge ourselves and the performances that we give.

Delivered by Theodore Roosevelt in Paris on April 23, 1910, these words transcend time and have moved me onto paths that were certainly challenging but also entirely devoid of regret. Please take them to heart and love the part of you that was willing to step into that ring.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Still gives me chills… go out and dare greatly!