COMMITMENT

Commitment
Until one is committed,
there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative and creation
there is one elementary truth,
The ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
that the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one
That would otherwise never have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
Raising in one’s favor all manner
of unforeseen incidents and meeting,
and material assistance,
which no man could have dreamt
would come his way.
I have learned a deep respect
For one of Goethe’s couplets:

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can … begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

W.N. Murray
The Scottish Himalayan Expedition
1951