Damn The Odds - Stories about the improbable journey » The Impossible Dream http://damntheodds.com Stories about the improbable journey Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:07:20 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.35 The Impossible Dream http://damntheodds.com/2011/10/the-impossible-dream/ http://damntheodds.com/2011/10/the-impossible-dream/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:50:01 +0000 http://damntheodds.com/?p=441 I know all of you are waiting with bated breath for Monday’s quote…BUT instead today’s post spotlights a song from Tony Award-winning musical Man of La Mancha — The Impossible Dream.

It’s impacted me greatly during this journey so I want to share it with you.   As you may know, I have been battling some inner resistance. Like many artists, fear was holding me back.  Still not quite sure of what I was afraid of…fear of bankruptcy, fear of being selfish by leaving a loved one behind, fear of failure, fear of throwing away what I worked so hard to achieve.  Or, was it fear of success and what that means to my strong desire to have a family one day? Who knows, who cares!

One of my acting coaches recited the lyrics to this song after I had a small breakdown in class.  I read this when I feel down and recently had a breakthrough. I hope the song inspires and helps people like it did for me.

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go 

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star

 

There are countless stories online about how this song has moved people to do great things.  One I just read is associated with Robert Kennedy’s long-shot Presidency campaign.

In 1968, George McGovern quoted The Impossible Dream while introducing Kennedy at an event.  Kennedy then asked McGovern if he thought it was impossible.  McGovern’s response…”No I don’t think it’s impossible.  I wanted the audience to understand it’s worth making the effort – whether you win or lose.”

Yes, love it!  This is the message I hope Damn the Odds conveys.

]]> http://damntheodds.com/2011/10/the-impossible-dream/feed/ 4