Today I learnt some Australian history. I often use a quote from a former Australian PM - Malcolm Fraser (Prime Minister from 1975-1983) was famous for:
"Life wasn't meant to be easy."
Unfortunately his political opponents seized on the sentence, arguing it revealed the attitude of the privileged and wealthy towards less-fortunate Australians. The words have been fixed to Fraser like a badge of dishonour, but they weren't original.
George Bernard Shaw used them in Back to Methuselah: "Life is not meant to be easy, my child ..." Fraser, however, overlooked the second half of the playwright's sentence: "... but take courage: it can be delightful." It transforms the message.
I'm going to keep on using the original quote with pride, I often repeat it to myself like a mantra when I'm feeling annoyed, overwhelmed or tired. By repeating this to myself I seem to get over my hump and just get on with it.
So that is my Australian history lesson for today... find your own mantra it may help to keep you motivated and focused when you are faced with difficult journey's ahead.
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