“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” ~ Sir Edmund Hillary
When I think of all of the remarkable achievements mankind has under its belt, I am humbled yet inspired to continue to grow and develop, all the days of my life. Every obstacle you meet, every challenge you face is an opportunity to get to know yourself more fully, more deeply than ever before.
While watching the movie “Secretariat” last evening, a particular scene stood out to me that I would like to share with you this morning. Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery Tweedy (played by Diane Lane) took a moment to speak to her horse the evening before he was to race the Belmont Stakes. It was a critical moment as victory in the Belmont Stakes meant winning the coveted Triple Crown. After leaving the Belmont Charity Ball, she assured Secretariat and herself, saying: “I realize something, I’ve already won. I made it here. I never quit.”
Such realizations are priceless. Don’t you agree? I daresay that achievements are pointless if you do not recognize something new about yourself, your peers or both in the process. Think for a moment about your latest accomplishments. Am I correct in saying that you were delighted to discover a previously unexpressed element of resolve that carried you through to victory?
General Douglas MacArthur wisely noted that “Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.” True and true. To live an uncommon life you must eschew the habit of quitting. No matter what the outcome, if you give it your best, your all, you have succeeded.
Gregory Hake 
Pingback: 16 Leadership Principles and Quotes From Secretariat « POSITIVE POWER AND BEYOND
I’ve always hated quitting personally as it just never felt right and also wished for others the ability to move beyond that point as well. Although sometimes a strategic retreat or change in direction is necessary, it should never be on the basis of laziness or lack of character to go the distance.
LikeLike
Quitting is something that I have never liked to do. Sometimes there is something to be said for being resolute, as long as it is for the right reasons. Actually, that is an interesting topic. I think resolve is an important thing, as long as you don’t let it turn into stubbornness. I think the difference between the two is the ability to make changes to your plan and listen to the advice of others along the way. Anyways, this is a great topic (as usual) that is ripe for further discussion.
LikeLike
Agreed, My wife and I were considering what’s involved in the so-called mountains that prevent the release of what could otherwise be simply expressed, in the moment. Often a simple open-ness and willingness to not only see things differently in the imagination, but to just act differently (Go against the grain) is enough to change everything! Recognising this pattern in myself and others certainly empowers one to be of assistance in helping turn that mountain into a pebble, for another….and next time one is beneath a moutain see it for what it is……99.9% of the time it was just a pebble!!!!!
LikeLike
So true that quitting wrinkles the soul… Great quote!
LikeLike
Bravo! Really great post.
LikeLike
The thought that every obstacle and challenge you meet is an opportunity to get to know yourself better really stood out to me. Those words are a touchstone into something magical and purposeful. It is intense to think about how many times I may quit under pressure – in small things that I may not be aware of necessarily at the time but which eventually derail the big thing all the small things lead up to. There is a great cover up to doing this and we never get to the real magic and purposeful part if we don’t, as you say, “eschew” quitting. I’ll definitely check out the movie with this post in mind. Thanks!
LikeLike
I love the author Napoleon Hill, of “Think and Grow Rich” success. I have a quote of his I’ve kept on my note pad for 20 years.” Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit”. There is something about getting past the point you thought would be as far as you could possibly go. Not a great trait for stalkers and crazies but the best for those with a vision for unparalleled achievement in making our world a better place.
Congratulations on your achievement of 365 blogs. I read you every day and am in the process of catching up for the months before I tuned in.Keep on!
LikeLike
Pingback: Tweets that mention Quitting Wrinkles the Soul | Gregg Hake's Blog -- Topsy.com
Saw your post that you reached 365 days of blogging. I check in with your blog at least weekly, have enjoyed many of your posts, learned about new people, poems, events… just wanted to say thanks and congratulations!
LikeLike
I think 365+ consecutive posts reveals a strong willingness not to quit! Congratulations on 1 year of blogging!
LikeLike
Secretariat is an inspiring story. They did a great job with the movie adaptation. Diane Lane was beautiful as Penny Chenery – and didn’t you love John Malcovich in the role of Secretariat’s trainer? The irony is that Penny got that particular horse because she lost a coin toss. But since she had the vision and the intuition that he would be the better horse she won what she wanted regardless of the appearance of having lost. I highly recommend this movie to your readers – our whole family enjoyed it.
LikeLike