Dig Deep and Come Up Heavy

"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride," is from an old English proverb. IF is a small word with a tremendous meaning. If I had taken a different road when I was young, I would be a millionaire today. How many times have you heard that one? If I had married the boss's daughter, I would now own the company. If I had invested that hundred dollars in the copper stock, I would be rich today. If, if, if...a small word with a powerful meaning. IF is akin to another small word, BUT. I could have been a millionaire, but... I could have married the bosses daughter, but. I could have written the American novel, but. The true kinship of IF and BUT is, both are remarkably poor excuses, neither necessarily true. They are inferior defenses for our failures in life. How many times have you heard someone say, "God knows I tried?" Well, you apparently didn`t try hard enough. Please allow me to show you an example. One night I went to bed, I was eighteen years old.