20 Comments
Jun 18Liked by Cindy Villanueva

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

— "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley

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author

This is brilliant. "...finds and shall find me unafraid." I want that tattooed on my heart.

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Such powerful words to live by. Thank you for sharing.

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Jun 18Liked by Cindy Villanueva

"I’m just stubbornly insistent on refusing asterisks." is my new favorite saying. Great post!

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Jul 7Liked by Cindy Villanueva

Love this mindset! Keep standing your ground.

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author

Thank you for reading!

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author

Thanks for reading!!

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Jun 19Liked by Cindy Villanueva

I loved every word! Thank you Cindy... "Don’t listen to the naysayers. Climb that mountain, write that book, go on that date, run that marathon. Whatever your dreams, go out and live." I needed this reminder today.

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author

I love that we lift each other up at just the right time xo

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Jun 19Liked by Cindy Villanueva

Thank you. me too. :) You're a blessing.

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So grateful for your kind words. :)

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Thank you for the inspiration, Cindy!

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Jun 18Liked by Cindy Villanueva

I'm stealing this line as a new moto: I’m just stubbornly insistent on refusing asterisks

Cheering you on, loudly, from afar!

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author

I can't wait to see where we end up in 2025...it's a beautiful journey and I'm proud and happy to share it with you!

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Jun 18Liked by Cindy Villanueva

I prefer adamantium, too. Get after it, Cindy!

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author

You're my tough girl friend!

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.. what is the alternative indeed... what a great question. Hope all goes well for your BB test!! I know you'll kill it!

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All the best Cindy! Black Belt #8 here she comes!

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I like this a lot. The notion of not learning, not changing, not moving forward, not discovering just cause we get older is the same as just giving up your life.

Regarding the asterisk: Maybe one should just accept it and figure that one is doing something right and is setting an example for those who follow?

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Nah. I don't want to be "great for 63." I want to be great. Period.

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