The View from the Front

When taking the lead in pursuit of the vision, it pays
To, once in a while, look behind you in case no one stays.
For if nobody shares in your struggle, or helps pay the toll
To succeed, then you may not be leading, but taking a stroll.

When the goal is before you, appearing to stay far away,
And your weariness tempts you to quit or from your path to stray,
Take heart in what triumphs behind you already were won,
And lean on what will be achieved when the hard work is done.

Lamenting the failures behind you, regardless the cause,
Assuming they were the result of your personal flaws,
Inhibit your progress. So, think only, “Here’s what I learned,”
And not, “I wish I’d never done that, because I got burned.”

Keeping our gaze focused forward, not looking around
At what made us, will stunt our maturing and our growth confound.