I thought I’d heard all the tales of the Wright Brothers before, but never from that angle. It’s even more inspiring! Thanks for the new perspective Sean.
My Mom taught me this poem when I was a little kid and hung it on the bulletin board in my room...Iit now hangs in my home office. There are good reason's to quit but never not to try if your hearts willing and common sense is at least in the neighborhood. Love this story.
It Couldn’t Be Done
By Edgar Albert Guest
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
I always love poems by Edgar Albert Guest! Thanks for the reminder of this one. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. But it is also good to know when to quit - too many stay some courses much longer than is good for them.
I've been to the Kitty Hawk Wright Brothers Memorial (and museum, and the obligatory gift shop) several times over the years, and the constant, reliable wind there reveals why it was such a good place for their experiments. It's not exactly remote today but not highly visited; and in 1903 it must have been quite isolated.
To see and walk the little "runway" that their powered flights took, from beginning to end, can be walked in a few short minutes; but it was the beginning of modern flight that we take for granted today. As a sobering reminder of human progress, consider this: From the Wright Brothers' first flights to us landing on the moon was a mere 66 years.
There is a large monument on a hill there at Kitty Hawk, and if you go up there you can read an inscription that reads, "In commemoration of the conquest of the air by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Conceived by genius, achieved by dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith."
Fun fact: In the above inscription, the word "GENIUS" is isolated on an outcropping of the monument, and if you stand directly under it you can get your picture taken by a friend, spouse, or fellow tourist, and you'll have a great picture to show your friends!
So the in-born intelligence was still there along with talent and creativity. Sometimes we lose our motivation when adversity comes. Now we can’t imagine life without flight.
THere is a wonderful book about them ( The Wright Brothers: McCullough, David) It is a must read. the Smithsonian has an entire room in the Air and SPace museum about them. If you can find a bicycle they built (and they funded their building of the plane with it) it is piceless. Great story, Sean.
Thanks for the history of flight ✈️. I,too, am proof of someone everyone said would amount to nothing based on my environment I determined to prove them wrong and I'm doing well by grace of God in my 80's.
Thank you for this inspiring reminder not to count someone out before they have reached their journey's end.
My daughter is the Principal of our school district's Alternative Education. The students there are the ones that teachers have given up on. They are the wasterals and troublemakers who are being given one more chance. Most will graduate in this supportive environment and go on to achieve further success. For some, the road of life is uphill with sharp curves in its path, and a destination yet to be determined. Who knows what their future will bring? I've sent your story to my daughter, I know she will love it too.
Sometimes, these students are also the more gifted ones, who don't do well in a normal class, and actually graduate earlier, ahead of their former classmates! My son, now 47, was one of those!
I've been to the Wright Brothers museum in Dayton numerous times and never heard this story! The museum is missing an awesome story to tell! Thanks Sean!
I thought I’d heard all the tales of the Wright Brothers before, but never from that angle. It’s even more inspiring! Thanks for the new perspective Sean.
Same here. Never heard that part of their history. Almost like a Paul Harvey “Rest of the Story.”
My Mom taught me this poem when I was a little kid and hung it on the bulletin board in my room...Iit now hangs in my home office. There are good reason's to quit but never not to try if your hearts willing and common sense is at least in the neighborhood. Love this story.
It Couldn’t Be Done
By Edgar Albert Guest
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.
I love this!
Oh, Katybeth!!
What a wonderful little poem thank you for sharing!!
I always love poems by Edgar Albert Guest! Thanks for the reminder of this one. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. But it is also good to know when to quit - too many stay some courses much longer than is good for them.
All true, Linda
You’ve just made my evening with this post! Thank you!!
I've been to the Kitty Hawk Wright Brothers Memorial (and museum, and the obligatory gift shop) several times over the years, and the constant, reliable wind there reveals why it was such a good place for their experiments. It's not exactly remote today but not highly visited; and in 1903 it must have been quite isolated.
To see and walk the little "runway" that their powered flights took, from beginning to end, can be walked in a few short minutes; but it was the beginning of modern flight that we take for granted today. As a sobering reminder of human progress, consider this: From the Wright Brothers' first flights to us landing on the moon was a mere 66 years.
There is a large monument on a hill there at Kitty Hawk, and if you go up there you can read an inscription that reads, "In commemoration of the conquest of the air by the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright. Conceived by genius, achieved by dauntless resolution and unconquerable faith."
Fun fact: In the above inscription, the word "GENIUS" is isolated on an outcropping of the monument, and if you stand directly under it you can get your picture taken by a friend, spouse, or fellow tourist, and you'll have a great picture to show your friends!
Great comment…..more “fat to chew on”……enjoyed all your thoughts and suggestion!
Thank you, Sean, for your storytelling & making us remember truths of never giving up on ourselves or others. 🙏🏾👏
So the in-born intelligence was still there along with talent and creativity. Sometimes we lose our motivation when adversity comes. Now we can’t imagine life without flight.
Sean, thanks for this great story about the Wright brothers. You made my retired English teacher heart sing. Love to you and Jamie.
A block in the road can mean there's a better path!
I needed to hear this today. Thank you Sean.❤️
THere is a wonderful book about them ( The Wright Brothers: McCullough, David) It is a must read. the Smithsonian has an entire room in the Air and SPace museum about them. If you can find a bicycle they built (and they funded their building of the plane with it) it is piceless. Great story, Sean.
We all have a destiny and many of us start by flying some low curves until we can soar the sky. Thanks for reminding us, Sean.
Thanks for the history of flight ✈️. I,too, am proof of someone everyone said would amount to nothing based on my environment I determined to prove them wrong and I'm doing well by grace of God in my 80's.
WONDERFUL!!!! Keep on! ♥️
Kudos, Julia!!
For those facing ‘set backs’, May time prove it was merely a ‘set up’ for greater things. That’s my prayer for you.
Thanks Sean, it made me think of my brother,
Awwwwwww……..
That’ll preach.
Thank you for this inspiring reminder not to count someone out before they have reached their journey's end.
My daughter is the Principal of our school district's Alternative Education. The students there are the ones that teachers have given up on. They are the wasterals and troublemakers who are being given one more chance. Most will graduate in this supportive environment and go on to achieve further success. For some, the road of life is uphill with sharp curves in its path, and a destination yet to be determined. Who knows what their future will bring? I've sent your story to my daughter, I know she will love it too.
Sometimes, these students are also the more gifted ones, who don't do well in a normal class, and actually graduate earlier, ahead of their former classmates! My son, now 47, was one of those!
As is my grandson! I’ve always said he would go far in life and I still believe!
I've been to the Wright Brothers museum in Dayton numerous times and never heard this story! The museum is missing an awesome story to tell! Thanks Sean!
If that story is not in that museum about the wright brothers, perhaps Sean enhanced.