Keep going. Don’t stop. Just a little further. Don’t give up. If you quit now, you won’t be able to say you made it. You are so close, don’t go back, Push yourself.
Each of us has heard these sorts of admonitions at some point in our lives. When we are in the midst of a major challenge and we just do not think we will make it, somebody comes along to encourage us to not quit and to press forward to the prize. At other times our only companion is ourselves. In most cases we can dig deep to get the strength to complete the task that establishes the “win.” Many times, despite “ALL” the encouragement we fail and we go home dejected. This is where this article picks up—at the point of failure.
If we have decided that something is worth it, we have to also accept that a single effort to attain our goal is rarely sufficient. We have to accept the self-evident fact that seldom does a person strike out to attain something or to be something that we get there with the first effort. In fact, all of us knows hundreds of stories of people accomplishing their goals “ONLY” after experiencing a ton of failures. However, even in the midst of these wonderful success stories, there are those who are still on the track striving with every ounce of their energy to “get there.” These individuals, who are still “PERSISTING” have to be helped and pushed along their paths, hopefully by those who were once in their shoes. Go ahead! Dare to be the catalyst that propels these potential winners onward and upward. It’s the job for all us to take care of those who aspire to be great and are still trying…just like us.
There is another group that needs to be pushed. They are the ones who have failed and have concluded that they will never get to their stated goals and have stopped trying. When we see this type of despondency, one of us needs to make contact, speak the admonitions to give it another try and to not stop —– no matter what. We have to be there for these guys and girls who have opted out of their own race to greatness due to discouragement. They need to know about the rewards of “PERSISTENCE” are great and eternal. We have to be the “still small voice” for them who need to ignite their passion for living.
Anecdote: Yesterday, my wife and I trained in the gym for no less than 2 hours which is the norm for us 6 days per week. We worked our Anterior Shoulders, Chest, and Calves. She is my training partner and we have worked out hand signals to help motivate us while we work so as not to interrupt the flow of training. In short, we were totally spent at the end of the session.
We then took her mother and her boyfriend out for breakfast. Great meal and great times were had.
We came home and immediately changed into our training clothes again. This time we ended up biking over 28 miles. Most of the first half of the journey was a steady uphill grade. When we got to what I perceived to be the end of the first leg, Christine pointed to a road that she said she had ridden 4 times before. She went on to explain that the road was 4 miles straight up with an acute, steady, incline. She had made it to the top twice without stopping. I had heard much about the difficulty of this 4 mile ride and I was tired, and I did not have any desire to challenge myself after our training earlier this morning. We talked for a little while and so I decided to go as far as I could and then come down.
We started up the road, comfortable in the fact I could stop anytime. Before I knew it we were huffing and puffing up this road. Christine, would keep saying that it was a hard ride but that we can make it we go slow (as if there is another speed on this monster). We kept talking and climbing. The huffing and puffing, even with lower gears, was starting to occupy our minds more and more with less talking. When we came to a much steeper grade, she would push me forward with some flimsy promise of a “flat stretch” just ahead. I could never see the end of the grade. To shorten this story, Christine, who was already the champ due to her having successfully climbed this mountain road, did her best to move me up the road to completion. Even though I have only been biking seriously for the last 4 days, my wonderful wife and mentor gave me the right words at the right time to win.
So it is with all of us. We have to have those timely bits of encouragement to persist and go on.
The “Magic of Persistence” is it;s own reward and many of us will persist to get our hands on that magic. Others will not be so motivated and they are the ones we have to stand ready to help.
“PERSISTENCE” is elusive to any of us unless we set a course to the top of your world. Don’t stop! THIS IS OUR TIME! Nothing can stop us as long as we “Believe in the Magic of Persistence.”
Quote: “Victory Belongs to him who gets up — One more time!”
Miss you guys!
Douglas E.. Graham
Six Pack and Senior 