“Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves – regret for the past and fear of the future.” ? Fulton Oursler
Many people don”t have the gall to compete. I happen to be one of them.
Trying to win an election, a game or an honor can be terrifying. Admitting to the world that you want something makes the success or failure public. And nobody wants to advertise his or her failures.
It may seem pessimistic, but sometimes I”m more afraid of failing than I am excited to win. I would imagine this fear stops many people from shooting for their most far-fetched aspirations.
But some still aim for their dreams and I commend them for it.
A number of those people ran in the elections Tuesday. Perhaps they thought they would win or maybe just that they had a chance. But they still tried. I appreciate their effort whether I voted for them or not.
Jack Baxter stepped into the race for Lake County Sheriff because he has experience and he thought he could do a better job than the other two candidates. However, Baxter didn”t succeed in garnering enough public interest Tuesday and was pushed out of the race with the least percent of votes, 27 percent.
Don Anderson and Doug Rhoades tried to unseat District Attorney Jon Hopkins and won. Who will take the office? Voters will decide in the November runoff.
When I first heard of Barack Obama before the 2008 primaries, I was skeptical of his abilities and experience. But he rallied our nation and now he”s the president.
Elections aren”t the only important chances people take in their lives. Playing sports, getting a master”s degree and committing to love with a partner are some of the goals my closest friends are going for.
One of my best friends, Olga, signed up for two co-ed softball teams through her work even though she had never played the game, didn”t own a glove and certainly didn”t know the rules. Rather than shy away from competition and embarrassment, she ran for it and scored at least a few runs.
If people don”t go for what they want, they”re likely to be crucified between the two thieves, still regretting missed opportunities and afraid to move forward.
As the wisdom of repeated quotations tell us, “It”s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” and, “Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.”
We must try ? otherwise the world and our lives will not change for the better.
I commend every person who ever took a chance and tried to make the planet brighter and happier for themselves and others.
Let us all learn from the Baxters, Obamas and Olgas in our lives to take the world in our hands.
The Baxters, Obamas and Olgas should also take the time to tell friends, family, students and children of their triumphs and failures to instill in them that win or lose, life goes on and we have just one chance at that.
While I may not run for election or try to win any other race, I”ve still shot for and hit many of my goals and I plan to keep trying ? fear or no fear.
“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.”
Katy Sweeny is a staff reporter for the Record-Bee. She can be reached at kdsweeny@gmail.com or 263-5635, ext. 37.
