“Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working.”
Here’s a simple fact:
Those who push on, work hard, and never give up will win at life.
“Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.” Douglas MacArthur
Failure isn’t a bad thing. Never trying, never extending ourselves, and quitting, however, is…
All he hears is coughing as his eldest son gasps for air. He lays there, a father and a husband whose family has entrusted him with their safety, and their lives. To put their safety and interests first, and his second.
For a guy who was once climbing the light heavyweight and heavyweight ranks, destined for stardom, this is rock bottom. The setbacks are too long to mention. The right hand that once put his opponents on their backs has been broken, and broken again.
The home that was bought and paid for: lost to the bank. The businesses that were invested in have all been bankrupt. The life that was going so well, that had so much promise, has been flipped upside down.
And now he lays there, unable to find work during the Great Depression. Unable to take care of his family whom he’d die for if it would serve some kind of purpose. If it would make their lives better. More bearable. But quitting is clearly not an option. Even though darkness has been following darkness. Even though there has been no hope for some time, he keeps the faith. He holds on to the notion that he still has some control over his situation, the lives of his 3 little kids and wife.
When men are leaving their families to save their own skin. To rid themselves of the burden of having to take care of, someone other than the person they can’t bare to see in the mirror, he stays. As his son coughs away in a home that no longer has heat, he knows he has to push on. He knows that he can’t let them down. That even though life is tough and cold, this is the hand he’s been dealt. This is his reality, and this is what he is faced with.
Life isn’t a walk in the park. It’s not about doing what you feel like doing. Quitting when the hard times come. Leaving when it gets too tough to handle. It’s about staying strong. It’s about persevering and never quitting.
Suppose James J. Braddock left his family the day before his manager came to him with an opportunity to fight. Suppose he didn’t wake up before dawn every day – broken hand and all – and head to the docks to find work, not knowing if they’d even pick him for the job that day.
By working with a broken right hand he was forced to strengthen his left, his weaker hand. Something that would then help him in the biggest fight of his life: for the heavyweight championship of the world. A fight that would bring heat to his home, food to his children’s belly’s, and security to him and his family.
Anyone can quit. Actually the vast majority of us do in some form or another every day. That quote:
“Age wrinkles the skin. Quitting wrinkles the soul.” Douglas MacArthur
Says it best. By quitting, we’re nullifying any chance we had at greatness. Who knows when our big break will come? No one.
Who knows when our hard work will pay off? No one.
“How long should you try? Until.” Jim Rohn
You’ll know when your hard work has paid off. And until then, keep working.
______________________________________________________________________________
What part of life has taught you most about perseverance?
Is it a specific sport, school, a had time in your life?
(Let me know in the comments section!)
It’s time to stand up to the challenge and reach your true potential.
