"do not go gentle."

“Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

                  -Dylan Thomas

It is time to fight. The little goslings are clearly intimidated by the unknown waters before them, but they venture out upon the lake regardless. I did not want this work, not in the way it came, but I am assigned to the horrid tasks before me anyway. Fainting is not in my blood. So I will be strong to the last.

And they explore new worlds of glories and waves—uncertainty turns into bubbles about them, for they have stepped out. They now know. We can all know, if we are brave. That point when you look down and find—I am no longer afraid as I once was.

When they ask you, “can you climb this?” and, “can you run through that?”, you will think, “no”, but say, “yes.” Don’t worry about succeeding. Focus on trying. We are only as courageous as we are. Well, how much is that?—well, don’t ask, just imagine daring beyond imagination. And when the light dies, you can rage against it.

Blood determines nothing. But tell yourself it does—that you are descended from Scottish Chieftains. It will boil you up for battle. Just remember, battles are often fought in suffocating rooms at keyboards and dish sinks, under instruction and impossible demands. Remember to press on, even when the victory cannot be yours. And when you breathe free air at the end of long days, let your heart go wild with war cries.

The little birds will grow fast and lakes will be but a stop on their journey home.

Rage on.