A generation ago, Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) enthralled audiences around the world with epic poems, short stories and novels. His experiences growing up in British-controlled India provided a rich source of colorful folklore and inspiration for children’s stories, such as the Jungle Book. Kipling received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.
Of all of his many poems, my favorite is the inspirational poem If, which he wrote in 1895. It poses questions or conditions on how one develops the qualities of good character and balance embodied in a successful life.