It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Our favourite quote if there ever was one. Why? Because it speaks about letting go of judgement, a gentle reminder that we are all trying our best and you never know what someone else has gone through.

In the words of Aaliyah, dust yourself off and try again.

And again, and again. Life is full of surprises, some so wonderfully brilliant, some so heartbreakingly devastating so to learn these key skills of getting back up, of no judgement (of yourself and others) , of courage, strength, grit and determination…these are the skills that will see you win.

Also – if appropriate to laugh a little at yourself, you tried, you fell and so what?

Like a toddler beginning to walk, we don’t say ‘oh no, you fell, that’s it never try again’, we say ‘keep going, try again, you can do it’. Bring these words into your every day world. Because you can do it.

See you in the arena my friend.