You are the product of yourself

by Pablo Neruda

Don’t blame anyone, never complain about anyone or anything

Because fundamentally you have made what you want in life,
accept the responsibility of educating yourself
and the courage to accuse yourself of failure.

The triumph of the truthful real man [or woman] 5

rises from the ashes of error.

Never complain about your poverty, your loneliness, or your luck

take courage and accept, that in one way or another
they are the result of your actions and the evidence of what has to be
overcome. 10

Do not be embittered by your own development

nor impose it on another
accept yourself now; or you will forever continue
to justify yourself like a child
remember that any moment 15
is good for beginning
and that nothing is as terrible as to be untrue to one’s professed
principles (to halt)

Do not forget that the cause of your present is your past

just as the cause of your future is your present. 20

Learn from the strong ones, from the bold ones,

Imitate the brave ones, the lively ones, the victors,
those who do not accept situations
those who overcome in spite of everything.

Think less about your problems and more about your work, 25
and your problems, without nourishment, will die.

Learn to be born from pain

and to be greater than the greatest obstacles
look in the mirror at yourself
and you will be free and strong 30
and you will cease to be a puppet of circumstances
because you yourself are your destiny
and no one can replace you in the building of your own future.

Wake up in the mornings to see

and to breathe the light of dawn 35
you are part of the life force
now wake up, struggle ahead and make up your mind
and you will triumph in life.

Never think about luck

Because luck is the excuse 40
of the failures.