“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things, distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” ~ Thomas Carlyle
Never give up.
John Milton wrote Paradise Lost years after he had lost his eyesight. Fewer than a dozen of Emily Dickinson’s poems were published in her lifetime. Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs, but he also stuck out 1,330 times. Winston Churchill, legendary statesman and orator, described himself as having a “speech impediment,” which he constantly sought to overcome.
An according to Hollywood folklore, a screen test memo is reported to have read: “Can’t act. Slightly Bald. Also dances.”
Imagine that!?!
What do you have to lose by trying again when you’ve come up short. As Churchill so wisely put it: “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense.”
Quitting is a bad habit, not a permanent character flaw. It can be remedied just as surely as flabby muscle can be toned with proper nourishment, exercise, hydration and rest. Look this week to meet with renewed conviction an area of your life where you’ve given up hope. Give in to the conviction of honor and good sense, give thanks for the opportunity to have another approach and meet it – when the time is right – with all your might.
Gregory Hake 
I love the quote from Churchill. We just watched “The King’s Speech” this past weekend, in which Churchill references his speech impediment to the king, so perfect timing for me to read this post. Can’t wait to see what the week has in store!
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Sometimes your obstacles are real, and sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes they’re self imposed, and sometimes they are imposed by others. None of that means anything, because in the middle of the fray, you usually can’t distinguish which of those you are dealing with. They way I deal with that is to give each and every obstacle my best. It really takes a lot of the hand wringing out of life.
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In the spirit of Muhammed Ali who said to the effect “you can knock me down but you can’t keep me down.” To develop the habit of just getting back gets you in the game and allows you to refine your efforts. Onward an upward!
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YES!!!
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What a great reason to give in… love it!
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Will do Gregg!
Thanks, greatly appreciate the opportunity, to quit quitting, and simply let it be done!
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My sentiments exactly. Jennifer Hudson would be a modern addition to the list!
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My 4 year old son is a perfect example of this. Today he woke up and said to me, “I can count backwards…7,6,5,etc”. I asked when he learned this and he replied, “last night dad, you just have to practice practice practice!”
Love that in children, that have a natural tendency toward “I can”, give them a little additional support and no telling what they can accomplish!
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