Mexico, 1968

Out of the cold darkness he came. John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania entered at the far end of the stadium, pain hobbling his every step, his leg bloody and bandaged. The winner of the marathon had been declared over an hour earlier. Only a few spectators remained. But the lone runner pressed on.

As he crossed the finish line, the small crowd roared out its appreciation. Afterward, a reporter asked the runner why he had not retired from the race, since he had no chance of winning. He seemed confused by the question. Finally, he answered:

"My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me to finish."

From Celebrate Humanity series of Olympic Games

Another reaffirmation for myself not to quit the game.

"'Life that shall send A challenge to its end, And when it comes, say, 'Welcome, friend.''

WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN SAID TO THE PSALMIST I Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

II Life is real—life is earnest—

And the grave is not its goal: Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

III Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destin'd end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow

Find us farther than to-day.

IV Art is long, and time is fleeting,

And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating

Funeral marches to the grave.

V In the world's broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!

VI

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!

Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act—act in the glorious Present!

Heart within, and God o'er head!

VII

Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us

Footsteps on the sands of time.

VIII

Footsteps, that, perhaps another,

Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwreck'd brother,

Seeing, shall take heart again.

IX

Let us then be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait

Am currently listening to this song and though my mental state(thanks to Vipassana meditation) is much better than this lyric may indicate, I am putting this here to reaffirm the strength in me to live with change. Also this song has beautiful music, which is something fundamental to who I am and that none can take away.

Change is good.

Peace S

All that you suffer is all that you are All that you smother is all that you are And you're saying you're seeing, you're saying who you are What takes meaning is cleaning the meaning of who you are

All may say I will dream All may say

All of your struggles beneath your disguise Drink from the reasons that hold you alive 'Til we're safe from the wounds of desire and pain You must rise from the mounds of desire and change

Too late to discover peace of mind Too late to recover me

All you see and all you breathe and all you cease to be Taken down your only son and what he means to me Your dream will be To dream with me

Will you wait? Yes I will, I will wait for you To cleanse your life takes more than time Take what you want Take all of it

Too late to discover peace of mind (have no peace of mind) To late to recover