Inspiration Wednesday- I can't

  Hello my darling LD fam, happy mid week, its another edition

 of inspiration Wednesday, read and be inspired.

I was the quintessential "I can't" child -- the poster child for the

 Advancement of the word "can't."

Whatever my mother told or asked me to do was immediately

 followed by my whining, "I caaaaan't." Consequently, very few

 tasks or goals that I set out to accomplished were ever completed.

One evening, my mother called me into the family room where she

 was reading an article in the TV Guide. On the cover was a photo

 of Marlo Thomas, currently starring in the popular sitcom, That Girl.

 Mother knew that the show was one of my favorites and Marlo one 

of my show biz idols.

"I want you to read this article," Mother began. "It's about Marlo Thomas.

 She tells how a simple poem that she was forced to learn by her father 

changed her life. She went from saying, "I can't" to "I can!" According to

 this article, she was able to restructure her life, and eventually her career,

 by learning the principles in the poem."

Sensing a conspiracy between Marlo Thomas and my mother,

 I took the small magazine from Mother and looked down at the

 glossy pages. There was Marlo, looking perky and adorable. Her

 smile was radiant and her trademark shoulder-flip hair was styled

 to perfection. I thought it must be grand to be Marlo! Beside her photo

 was the poem my mother had spoken of; a simple poem entitled, "I Can."

"I want you to memorize that poem," Mother said firmly.

"Mamaaaaa," I belly-ached. "I can't learn that poem. It's too loooong."

"It's not too long and yes, you can learn it. I want you to know 

it perfectly by this time tomorrow."

One does not say "no" to my mother. She coined the phrase:

 "When I tell you to jump you ask how high." She was the

 Queen of No nosense to elders. I adored her, but this was going too far!

I slumped my shoulders, turned and trudged my way back to my

 bedroom with the magazine loosely held in my small right hand.

 With a heavy heart, I plopped on my bed, fell back against the 

cotton spread and began my task.

"Can't is a word that is foe to ambition," I began. I repeated

 the line. I repeated it again and again until it held firm in my heart.

 "An enemy ambush to shatter your will..." I continued the process 

until the following evening, when I proudly recited the poem that

 has continued to be my motto.

Not long after,in my sixth grade i emerged as a top high jumper

 and a good reader in the school.

Ms. Thomas did not know me, but her story forever changed my life.

Saying, "I can," helped me to survive the worst moments of my life.

 Saying "I can" encouraged me to accomplish things I would have 

otherwise seen as out of my reach. A simple poem learned at seven

 is a poem that has sustained me to 22 years and will sustain me to

 seventy-seven. Maybe even longer.

-----/|\-/|\-/|\-----

I CAN

Can't is a word that is foe to ambition;

An enemy ambush to shatter your will.

It's prey forever to a man with a mission;

And bows only to courage, and patience, and skill.

So hate it with hatred that's deep and undying,

For once it is welcomed twill break any man.

And whatever the goal you are seeking, Keep trying!

And answer this demon by saying, "I Can!"

By Sylvia malilwe