154. I Ain't Goin' Out Like That!

HOW are you going out?
with a whimper or a roar?
Basking in the light of your best
or always knowing you could have been more?

How ARE you going out?
With a flicker or a flame?
A has-been that never was
or as the Tiger of your game?

How are YOU going out?
Dressed to impress or to spread gloom?
Will others be brightened or will they frown
when you walk into the room?

How are you going out?
Intent to conquer or set to bow?
Living the life of your dreams
or never making that silent vow?

I say go OUT the way you came in
a gift expected, celebrated and wished
Rise to the heights of your you-ness
And live your life so you'll be missed!



Commentary:
“I ain't goin' out like that!”

When I first heard a friend utter those words in response to a challenge in his life, I realized that—despite its offensiveness to students of proper English, it summed up in a unique way my own feelings towards success, failure, accomplishments, fate, my work ethic, and my ability to control my outcomes.

Since then, it's been my silent mantra whenever faced with a situation or challenges that threaten to keep me back, or an event that seeks to write a chapter in my story that I don't want written.

“I ain't goin' out like that!” says that when the final chapter is indeed written, that “That's NOT the way I want my story to go! That's NOT what I want people to say about me! That's NOT how I want to be remembered! That’s not what I will allow to take me out of the game!”

And when faced with a challenge that is poised to relegate me to obscurity or to second place, those six words give me the energy to dig deep inside and pull out the necessary energy, stamina, thoughts, words and deeds to do what must be done, and then I do it. 'Cause I mean it, I AIN'T GOIN' OUT LIKE THAT!!!! (Ah, if my High School English teacher, Mr. Arcari, could hear me now!)



“I Ain't Goin' Out Like That!”
Walt’s Life Rhyme #154
© Walt F.J. Goodridge
“I share what I know,
so that others may grow!”
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