If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’l like to win, but you think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will —
And it’s all in the state of mind. — Walter Wintle.

I read this poem in the book, The Ride of Her Life, by Elizabeth Letts. It chronicles the journey of Annie Wilkins, who rides across the country on horseback in 1955.

Annie is a level-headed, 62-year-old woman who has been given two to four years to live. She lives in Maine on her family’s farm, which she’s about to lose. She’s been married and divorced, both parents died, and the uncle who lived with her died.

Annie has no reason to stay in Maine, and her mom always wanted to visit the Pacific Ocean but never got the chance to do so.

Annie decides to go on the ultimate quest to do what her mom didn’t get to.

It’s such a lovely read with so many poignant moments. Too many to share here.

I liked the poem shared above, because Annie has this iron will to get to where she wants to go no matter what.

If you go into something with doubt, hesitation, and negativity, surely the results will follow. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy that all begins in the mind.

If you think you can do something, put in the work, and will your way to it, there’s a certain chance that you’re going to be successful.

Even if you fall short, there’s still success in the journey itself. Lessons learned along the way. Happy accidents and circumstances that you weren’t expecting.

All because you have a can-do attitude.

The effects on my writing life.

I liked this poem so much, I put it in a frame and it sits on my desk.

My writing life recently has been much like the parts of the poem. I’ve been feeling beaten, not putting myself out there, not feeling like I can, and have lost my writing chops.

Because of these thoughts and feelings, I’m defeated before I even begin.

I’ve experienced ups and downs with my writing, but when it comes right down to it, I enjoy it.

I like putting content out into the world. If it resonates with one other person, then it has done its job.

It all begins with our inner self and the path we are on. No one can walk it for us, and it’s our job to take charge, just as Annie Wilkins did.

Until next time, cheers!