PERSEVERANCE

Do you ever simply want to quit!

I do---yet  64 years have taught me: stick to my daily disciplines to improve my health, work on my emotional balance, keep my daily productively high, and enjoy my relationships.

It’s interesting as on Tuesday of this week I was once again reminded of just what perseverance means:  

“Observe the ant,” the great Oriental conqueror Tamerlane told his friends.  In relating a story from his early life, he said “ I once was forced to take shelter from my enemies in a dilapidated building, where I sat alone for many hours.  Wishing to divert my mind from my hopeless situation, I fixed my eyes on an ant carrying a kernel of corn larger than itself up a high wall.  I counted its attempts to accomplish this feat.  The corn fell sixty-nine times to the ground, but the insect persevered.   The seventieth time it reached the top.  The ant’s accomplishment gave me courage for the moment, and I never forgot the lesson.”  (from the King’s Business)

According to the internet  perseverance is the steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

I truly believe that is life.

Daily we need to simply  “keep on keeping on”.  

Yes, there is a lot of chatter about instant fixes, or “instant gardens” as I like to say.  However “instant gardens” are not reality.  Life is hard and we need a plan to keep from giving up.  

There are tons of self help books, computer programs, day planners, all kinds of systems ---name it and you’ll find it!

However, honestly without the endurance to push through tough times nothing will work.

Life has taught me there is no MEGA BILLION Lottery to step in and fulfill my ultimate dreams.

So as we get into this season of our life (2016)  I’m going to encourage you - like me - to stick with perseverance, and remember the ant!

Congratulations Amber!

Early summer is graduation time.

From preschool to graduate school, students amble across platforms, cap and gown on to celebrate their accomplishments. 

Friends, siblings, parents and grandparents beam with pride as milestones are reached. 

Last Friday I had the opportunity to celebrate with a young lady, Amber Benn, as she graduated from Pima Medical Institute.  It was a fun evening and a true indication of  how hard she has worked.  It was a great accomplishment! 

Amber on the left

Sitting in the auditorium my mind went back to other ceremonies:my own graduation, that of our children and many other’s commencement day. 

Graduations have a soft spot in my heart. 

Graduates work hard - they put in long hours, sacrifice of money and time with family.  There are no “instant gardens” in this accomplishment.  It takes prowess, mastery, competence, capability, proficiency, aptitude and simply drive to reach a goal.

Oh, maybe you’ve not heard my “instant garden” story.  An “instant garden” is what you get when you go to the garden store and spend $200 and buy plants in full bloom with fruit ready to pick. 

It’s not planting, watering, weeding, and cultivating.That is the know-how to an accomplishment.

Even after graduation life is like that: no “instant” fixes

Neuroscientists say we continually graduate in our thinking and understanding of life.  We choose what we focus on.  Where we spend our days.  How we work through sleepless nights.  What sacrifices we make for family and friends. 

LIFE is an accomplishment, something to live and achieve successfully one day at a time.

Recently I heard an acronym for LIFE.  It stands for

Learn, Implement, Fail, and Evaluate. 






I thought that was cool.

So congratulations to all the 2015 Graduates - from grade school to graduate school we are proud of you!

Now, as my Mom would say:








Apply what you learned and love LIFE!