I heard this from a TED talk given a few years ago by the late Coach John Wooden about true success . . . and he quoted this poem written by a major league umpire named, George Moriarty. I think it is very inspiring and a reminder to us all that winning isn’t everything . . .
The Road Ahead/The Road Behind
“Sometimes I think the Fates must grin,
As we denounce them and insist.
The only reason we can’t win,
Is the Fates themselves that miss.
Yet there lives on the ancient claim:
We win or lose within ourselves.
The shining trophies on our shelves,
Can never win tomorrow’s game.
You and I know deeper down,
There’s always a chance to win the crown.
But when we fail to give our best,
We simply haven’t met the test,
Of giving all and saving none
Until the game is really won.
Of showing what is meant by grit.
Of playing through when others quit.
Of playing through, not letting up.
It’s bearing down that wins the cup.
Of dreaming there’s a goal ahead.
Of hoping when our dreams are dead.
Of praying when our hopes have fled.
Yet losing, not afraid to fall,
If bravely we have given all.
For who can ask more of a man,
Than giving all within his span.
Giving all, it seems to me,
Is not so far from victory.
And so the fates are seldom wrong,
No matter how they twist and wind.
It’s you and I who make our fates —
We open up or close the gates,
On the road ahead or the road behind.”