By Nancy R. Catan, BCBP Manila
We have all heard numerous stories and seen pictures and videos of the significant events happening in the world today: terrorist attacks in Paris and elsewhere, drought conditions, severe storms, famine and hunger. We remember Yolanda. And we are continuing to be deluged by accounts, some glowing, others stressful, resulting from the APEC meetings in Manila.
All this brings to mind a poem by Rudyard Kipling that my father used to often quote to me every time I would complain about the difficulties of life. I find it very relevant to the many events, both forces of nature and those that are man-made, which seem to be happening in the world on a daily basis.
In view of the upcoming elections, wouldn’t it be great if those aspiring for public office would put Kipling’s thoughts into action in their lives? And each one of us, too?
IF by Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; 
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
