Tips for Stress free life  >  Expert Zone   > Inspirational

       Inspirational Tips by experts


From The Ashes


The man plopped down on his chair, defeated.

His father's maxims bit his ears and nagged him like tired Christmas jingles.

"No pain, no gain. No guts, no glory. No risk no reward. Gotta' pay to play. You never know until you try."

On and on.

He sat, dazed, in a semi-trance, half-comatose, half numb, with tinges of remorse and disappointment punctuated by an occasional anxiety spike.

He couldn't believe Dad had been gone almost five years.

It seemed like yesterday that they would gather on the back porch to celebrate the victories, cry over the defeats and laugh about both.

Dad always delivered the perfect line, the stern encouragement, the voice of wisdom that transcended the man's annoyance over the unflappable demeanor that smiled regardless, win or lose, rain or shine, day or night.

"I'll have to face this one alone," he thought, smitten with a mix of terror and sadness.

As if he knew how.

A familiar paralysis crept over him like a slow-moving shadow, unobserved, adding darkness in tiny, imperceptible stages until it blocked all light, held him bound to his history, prisoner of his doubt.

His eyes drooped, his hands fell limp, his neck crooned forward, listless and heavy.

"YOU'RE JUST AFRAID," the voice bellowed in his head. "IT'S NOT REAL," it continued, "never is, never was. You know better."

Startled awake, the man let his suppressed smile come through.

"Yeah, Dad," he reflected, "I remember. Nothing to fear but the fear itself. Easy to say, not so easy to do-especially after having your butt handed to you on a platter-again."

Still, the grin lingered, chased out some of the cobwebs.

"Funny how fear works," the man mused, drawing on memories. "Freezes us into inaction, negates powerful lessons, shuts down our creative juice."

All these and more, he had bantered at length on the porch over ?unsweetened ice tea and fat, salted Heinz pretzels in a big brown box.

He wished he had one now.

"Failures come and go-part of life," Dad preached. "Same as triumphs. Not the failure that sets you back, son, only the fear of failure."

The man struggled to apply the notion to today, beaten once more, beaten and tired, a space where the desire to quit and pack it in held court in full regalia, so many jesters and wannabes heckling their own loserisms, taunts and jeers.

"Told you so-should have listened-bail while you still can-get a real job-nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah?"

"Only the FEAR of failure?"

Dad's mandate.

"That's all it is." The man wrestled in his mind. "I have failed many times and so what. I might succeed on the next one. Failure's not so bad, unless it traps me into never starting over."

The man looked around the room, as if to conjure the image of his father, an involuntary shudder rippling down his spine.

"I know, I know," he spoke out loud. "Sometimes it just takes me a minute."

He pushed himself erect, picked up his chin and settled his gaze on the picture on the mantelpiece.

"I know," he repeated. "I know."

That's A View From The Ridge...

About The Author

Author Ridgely Goldsborough invites you to subscribe to The Daily Column, a heart-felt collection of stories that inspire hope and courage. Please do so at www.aviewfromtheridge.com.

ridge@aviewfromtheridge.com


MORE RESOURCES:

See the complete list of Articles on Inspiration here

Have a look at Best Selling Books on Inspiration

 

Google

See also : Other articles on

Depression, Grief-loss, Elder Care Relationships
Inspiration, Inspirational, Motivation,
Positive Attitude
,  Meditation, Spirituality


 

Latest info on : Inspiration

 


Top 20 Inspirational Sports Movies
Beliefnet.com, NY - 1 hour ago
In celebration of the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, Beliefnet contributors made their personal picks for the Top 20 Inspirational Sports Movies of All ...


Inspirational Amy loses final battle
Community News Group, UK - 4 hours ago
By Chris Griffin » A LITTLE girl who waged an inspirational fight to recover from a brain tumour has lost her final battle. Eleven-years-old Amy Allen's ...


Inspirational golfer renews swing
Sunshine Coast Daily, Australia - 37 minutes ago
The key to good golf, Mary Joyce said, was to just get out there and have a good time. The 85-year-old said she’d been a golfer since she was a teenager. ...


Wrexham school 'inspirational' says children's champ
Evening Leader, UK - 7 hours ago
It's inspirational really." Mr Towler visited the school as part of his first "Time to Talk – Time to Listen" tour. Last week he was visiting children and ...


Top 15 Most Inspirational Olympic Moments
Beliefnet.com, NY - 1 hour ago
What makes for an inspiring Olympic moment? Is it the years of hard work and sacrifice that culminate in a gold medal? Is it competing because you love your ...


An inspirational rabbit
North by Northwestern, IL - 20 hours ago
By Patrick St. Michel ‘Twas not a good weekend for Northwestern. But let’s not dwell on how our school lost all potential respect once again on national TV ...


Out of our past: A pep talk, courtesy of FDR
Arizona Daily Star, AZ - 13 hours ago
While all may not agree with FDR's policies and programs, few would deny that his words and warm fireside chats were inspirational and united our nation. ...
Wanted: A Good Keynesian. Massive Public Investment Will Fix the ... Huffington Post
all 2 news articles


New Film Tells Story of the First Black Heisman Trophy Winner
TheCelebrityCafe.com, NY - 13 hours ago
“The Express” tells the inspirational story of Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. The Erie Times reports that Syracuse ...


Tatenda Tavaziva's journey to and at UMHB an inspirational story
Killeen Daily Herald, TX - Oct 12, 2008
Tatenda Tavaziva attends a football game at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. The current student body president arrived at the school in January 2005 ...


WESH news director Barbara Maushard leaving for New York job
The TV Guy, FL - 3 hours ago
Everyone describes her as inspirational." During Maushard's tenure, the station made strides in attracting young adult viewers, but WESH also lost veteran ...

Inspirational - Google News

 

Why not be an expert yourself  ?

 If you can write on any of the above topic, you are welcome to submit your
 articles in our database :

 Submit your article here   Our Article Area

You are here Home > Tips for Stress free Life > Expert Zone > Inspirational Tips


| Inspirational Tips Home | Inspirational Tips - Complete list 

| Main Home | | Meditation Corner

                |Health Tips  | Workplace Tips  | Soul Tips  |Expert Zone  |

Recommend us  |

 Books, DVDs and accessories on meditation & yoga  |

[About us] [Contact] [Privacy Policy]

Copyright 2006, Meditation is Easy.com, All rights reserved