Perseverance

I have been doing a lot of thinking about perseverance lately because, well, there's a lot to push through in my life. Of course, I always do it with a smile, but sometimes smiling is the toughest part.

The definition of perseverance is "steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement." I think that's pretty obvious except I really like reading the "in spite of difficulties" part. Perseverance is a powerful word. To persevere means you have a powerful conviction—even if that conviction is simply to be yourself. 

What I enjoy about this concept is you don't get the opportunity to persevere and push yourself without an opposing force. You need discouragement, difficulties and obstacles in order for you to strike a chance parting the ocean, or—for us non-Moses types—change the way you organize your life .

Most of us would like to catch a break and stop crossing paths littered with opposition. I would really like to make a plan, and have the ability to follow-through without something uprooting it mid-progress. But not only is that a somewhat silly request to the universe, getting to slide through the steps without the tough stuff doesn't allow me to persevere through anything.

If a 20lb dumbbell was easy to move around, I wouldn't build muscles and if I folded into downward-facing-dog without any effort, I certainly wouldn't appreciate it. 

So, what can I say other than I am persevering. I am pushing through. It's a challenging but I am trying to see it as an opportunity to showcase my goods. And I'll mentally stick my tongue out at all who get in the way. 

Am I happy to be persevering? Naw, not mostly.
But I'm tryin Ringo. I'm trying real hard to be the Shepard.
And that, my friends, is far more comforting than a smile.