I just came across a truly fabulous quotation, and I wanted to share it with you. I’ve made it pro-woman, though, because like so many older quotes, it focuses on men’s accomplishments, and I think we need pro-feminine language to keep us focused and encouraged to do the tough things, to fight the good fights.

Here’s the quotation …

“It is not the critic who counts; not the [wo]man [or man] who points out how the strong [wo]man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the [wo]man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends [her]self in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if [s]he fails, at least [s]he fails while daring greatly. So that [her] place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Powerful words from Theodore Roosevelt, who seems to know that it takes hard work and making mistakes sometimes to achieve great things … including losing weight, tackling stressors head on and working hard to create your personal best life (if I do say so myself, those are particularly worthy causes!). :)

If you haven’t yet … engaged in your pursuit of a happier, healthier life for yourself, what are you waiting for?