Each Day Already is a Challenge

Forbidden words

My mom used to sing a song about the word "can't". In our house, you were not allowed to say that you couldn't do something.

She sang, "I'll never, ever say I can't. I'll always say I'll try."

The other word that we couldn't say was "hate". We definitely were not allowed to hate people. We could hate their actions, but not them. We were allowed to dislike foods, but only after we had tried them. And even then, we had to try them again periodically, in case our tastes changed.

I tried to instill these same ideas in my son's growing years. And, yes, I did sing the song to him.


****In 1902, an aspiring young writer received a rejection letter from the poetry editor of The Atlantic Monthly. Enclosed with a sheaf of poems the 28-yr-old poet had sent was this curt note: "Our magazine has no room for your vigorous verse." The young poet rejected the rejection however, and went on to see his work published. His name was Robert Frost.*****


We can't give up. We must always try.





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"The Potter's Cup and Saucer"