“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.”  –Michelangelo

Talk about a man who didn’t aim low in his life! Michelangelo was only 25 years old when he finished carving the statue known as The Pieta. For those of you who haven’t had the privilege of seeing it firsthand I can tell you that it is truly breathtaking. The statue was carved from a single piece of Carrera marble and stands nearly 6 feet tall. The way he carved the marble so it appears that the fabric is literally draped across the body so lifelike is incredible. He went on to do several more famous carvings such as the David statue and the ever famous painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. I have had the privilege of seeing that in person as well and I can honestly say it blows me away to see such a display of amazing talent.

Michelangelo’s mother died when he was only six years old. His father discouraged him from pursuing the arts because he thought it was beneath their social status. But Michelangelo didn’t let anything stop him from pursuing his talent and at the age of 13 he became an apprentice to a man who at the time was the most fashionable painter in Florence, Italy.

Clearly Michelangelo set his aim high in life and because of that he achieved excellence in poetry, sculpture, painting, and architecture. He was seen as the supreme master of representing the human body and his work has influenced generations from his day until ours and beyond.

Don’t set the aim for your life too low. Set it high and don’t waste one second worrying if you will fall short or not. The higher you aim the more you are bound to accomplish with your life.

AIM HIGH! And just see what you might accomplish:

The Pieta

~Amy Rees Anderson