weather the punches

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, 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 and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

~ Teddy Roosevelt

It doesn't really matter now, does it? We have no choice but to fight. We've been told over and over that life is a constant struggle, and that the only competition one has is himself. These ideas are so basic that we tend to dismiss them right off, thus we end up lonely and bitter because we fight all other forces except our own. Yeah yeah, the crowd can mock our efforts all they want, but why listen, when you know your life is yours to take and use.

Gotta parry the blows.