Today's Thursday Thought is by another of my author friends, Kelly Nelson. I love her message--it applies to all of us in every walk of life.
"As a young teenager, I listened to a woman who was
confined to a wheelchair give a motivational talk. In spite of her physical
challenges she had achieved great things. I don’t remember all of what she
said, but one thing has stuck with me for all of these years. She encouraged us
to “Reach for the Stars,” saying, “If you reach for the stars you might make it
to the moon, but if you only reach for the moon, you might barely make it out
of the atmosphere, and if you only try for the sky you may not get past your
roof top.”
I don’t remember who this woman was or what she had
done, but her words have come back to me time and time again, motivating me to
always try to be the best I can. Remembering what she said has given me the
courage to try new things and to face possible failure. If we let the fear of
failure stop us from trying, we will never succeed. Often it is what we learn
from our failures, that gives us the experience and knowledge to finally
succeed. I am reminded of Thomas Edison, who despite hundreds of failed attempts
while inventing the electric light bulb, persevered until he achieved his goal.
I don’t doubt he evaluated each failed attempt and made calculated adjustments
until he found the recipe for success. Remember to always reach for the stars!"
Kelly Nelson lives in Oregon with her husband and
four children. She enjoys riding her horses, running, and of course pursuing
her passion for writing.
