Today we have a Hemingway quote on The Morning Chalkboard.
There comes a point in a man’s life when the only competition left is the reflection staring back at him while he’s brushing his teeth at four in the morning. You can blame society, age, ex-wives, kids, colleagues, your parents, the world, whatever. Deep down you know the truth... the real fight is always with your former self.
That is why the quote today rings true.
It isn’t pretty.
It isn’t poetic.
The daily grind of trying to be just a hair better than the guy you were yesterday. That is definitely no small task. Especially at this stage of life when the body creaks, patience thins, and the miles on the odometer can’t be erased.
It took me a few years to realize that the world doesn’t hand out do-overs. We all get one sunrise a day, and you either use it or lose it. Today’s sunrise is at 6:41 AM, same for everyone in Chicagoland.
Some folks roll over.
Some folks complained.
Some folks get up and try again. Because they know damn well that yesterday doesn’t owe us a thing.
Every scar, every mistake and every stupid decision are dead weight if carried like an anchor. Instead, use them as stepping stones, then you are walking forward, not backward. Just the quiet resolve to show up, grind, and improve by inches is true nobility.
Take today's quote for what it is... a mirror.
Look at it, own it, and outdo the person you were yesterday.
Inch by inch.
Day by day.
Mother Nature gives us a crack at warmth today. Store it up and rub it all over your body. The moon is waning into newness. Use that as a chance at a do-over. Every month has a new moon and an opportunity to find newness as well.
