I just got back from an enjoyable evening at my daughter’s school. She starts kindergarten on Monday, so tonight was a chance to meet her teacher, principal, and her classmates. On the wall of her classroom was posted this essay on a large laminated poster:

The Bottom Line

Face it
Nobody owes you anything.
What you achieve, or fail to achieve
in your lifetime
Is directly related to what
you do or fail to do.
No one chooses his parent or childhood,
But you can choose your own direction.
Everyone has problems and
obstacles to overcome,
But that too is relative to each individual.
Nothing is carved in stone!
You can change anything in your life
If you want to badly enough.
Excuses are for losers! Those who take responsibility
for their actions
are the real winners in life.
Winners meet life challenges head on
knowing there are no guarantees, and
give it all they’ve got
and never think it’s too late
or too early
to begin.
Time plays no favorites
and will pass whether you act or not.
Take control of your life
Dare to Dream and take risks…
Compete!
If you aren’t willing to work for your goals,
don’t expect others to.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!”

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Now I ask you, does that strike you as something you would have expected to see in a kindergarten classroom? I have to confess that while we try to tach these kinds of values to Callie and her 2-year old brother, Max, I did not see that one coming.

I post it here in the hopes that if it inspires you, then perhaps you will share it others you know, especially your children…regardless of their age!
~JT