Patience is a man's greatest virtue, or so the saying goes.
A gymnast must have said it, for a gymnast surely knows!
That in this funny sport of ours, discouragement runs high,
And even the very best will find that this virtue has passed us by.
When hands are ripped and throbbing, when every muscles sore,
will a gymnast still have patience, to limp the gym for more?
When you've lost old move, and progress seems slow,
will you still have faith in better days, and not feel sad and low?
Can you admit your frightened, yet not give in to fear?
Can you conquer pain and frustration and often even tears?
When some one else does something, you've tried so long to do...
can you still be happy for her or self-pity for you?
And when success seems far away, your efforts all in vain,
can you force yourself to wear a smile and disregard the pain?
If despite the pain and tribulations, you can say " I wont give in"
Maybe someday you'll discover that its now your time to win!
- author unknown
Gymnast65