The owner of a stiff backbone is not easily put down by adverse
circumstances.
No man’s troubles overwhelm him unless he gives in to them weakly.
This is the experience of men since the world began: You must fight your
way up and never look back to slipping places, for then you will surely
stumble.
Worry is one of the symptoms of a weak backbone. Everybody should know
that small stumbles are not killing matters to mourn over or worry
about. You may have had in your own experience, many cases where your
worries and anxieties proved nothing but phantoms. You think you will
not survive until tomorrow, but you always see the sun shining the next
day whatever befalls you today.
Things always come out as a rule much better than you expect, or dared
hope.
If you have health and good friends to encourage you, why should you
worry or fret over the things of life which are always small and
insignificant?
Keep your eyes open and watch for another opportunity to wedge yourself
back in, if you should happen to be crowded out of anything.
You must not think that every avenue to opportunity is sealed up against
you because you do not find a wide open way to get in. Try a small way
first, and keep on pushing and the road will widen. That is you must not
weaken, if you do you will slide back and so be always climbing up and
sliding down the hill.