High-Mindedness: A Lesson from a Poem

Dear friends, today I’d like to share a story from my past, a story that taught me the value of high-mindedness. It’s a tale that revolves around the seemingly simple task of writing a poem, but as you’ll soon discover, the lessons it imparts are far from simple.

The Challenge

Many moons ago, when I was a young man, I found myself in a poetry class. Our professor, a stern yet fair woman, gave us an assignment: to write a poem that would not only touch hearts but also stimulate minds. The task seemed daunting, but I was determined to rise to the challenge.

The Journey

As I sat down to write, I realized that to create something truly meaningful, I needed to dig deep into my own experiences and emotions. I needed to be high-minded, to rise above the mundane and the trivial, and to explore the profound and the significant.

The Revelation

And so, I wrote. I wrote about love and loss, about joy and sorrow, about the human condition in all its complexity. And as I wrote, I discovered something extraordinary: high-mindedness wasn’t just about lofty ideas or grand themes. It was about authenticity, about being true to oneself and one’s experiences. It was about reaching for the stars, yes, but also about acknowledging the mud beneath one’s feet.

The Lesson

My friends, the poem I wrote wasn’t perfect. But it was honest, it was heartfelt, and it was mine. And it taught me a valuable lesson: that high-mindedness isn’t about pretension or arrogance. It’s about striving for excellence, about seeking truth and beauty, about daring to dream and to aspire.

So, as you navigate the journey of life, I urge you to be high-minded. Embrace your experiences, your emotions, your dreams and aspirations. Strive for excellence, seek truth and beauty, dare to dream and to aspire. And remember, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being true to who you are.

Conclusion

High-mindedness, my friends, is a journey, not a destination. It’s a way of life, a way of being. And it’s a journey that’s well worth embarking on. So, here’s to high-mindedness, to truth and beauty, to dreams and aspirations. Here’s to you, and to the journey ahead.

Until next time,

Kev