Rilke had it right:
  Don’t take the easy way, the shortest path.

Old now, and past my prime, I don’t compete.
I think of Rilke as I consider turning around on a windy run that
I need not finish.

His advice to the young poet struck me
As I wondered: Why endure the difficult wind?
I had heard his words before.

From Joan Benoit-Samuelson who
never cut corners as
they provided extra steps those who compromised would lack.
Steps that make the difference in a life.
Steps that won her gold at the first women’s Olympic marathon.

From Charlie Spedding who
trained again and again when others told him it was useless.
He worked hard believing that
on the day, the best prepared would win
and he won on Olympic day, a bronze medal, his day.

I watch many today:
full of excuses, short cuts, and reasons they deserve to win, effort
wanting.
I wonder at their decision to cut corners,
take the easy way.

Listen to Rilke,
  take the extra step,
  believe in the day,
  trust in the difficult.