Between the weather and events happening at work and home, I'm behind the times here. It's a slow start to the New Year, and a slow start to the 12th year of doing these weekly pieces. For the slow start, I apologize -- but it brings up a good topic -- not giving up, even though you may be starting off slow out of the gate.
I don't know what it is about people, but so many of us give up early. At the first sign of trouble, we're likely to stop trying, give in, and throw in the towel. In fact, it happens so often, that merely showing up and trying your best is often the key to becoming a success -- no incredible superhero stunts are necessary. Life isn't a horse race. In life, so many people have already given up early, that being yourself and completing the challenge are often enough to win the race.
When you get right down to it, then, consistency and persistence are the two elements that make it easy for many of us to pull through, even though we may have gotten a slow start. And at the beginning of a new year, many of us find ourselves attempting to get ourselves in gear, and start down that path to success and accomplishment.
So here's the key to attaining something great in this New Year -- even if you've started late, finish strong and steady. If you get right down to it, races are won at the finish line, not at the starting line -- and although in a real race, that time out of the gate may make a difference, consistent activity and effort are more important to winning the race of life than are an early start, often followed by a late finish (or no finish at all).
So, no matter how late you might be with your start down life's path, whether you're starting toward your goals at 22 or at 62, finish strongly, believe in yourself, follow through, and remember that persistence overcomes all obstacles.
Copyright, 2011, by Daryl R. Gibson. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for the non-commercial redistribution of this document as long as it remains intact with this copyright and all other lines. This license does not extend to the use of this material in a compilation, whether for profit or non-profit use. Join us at http://www.Weekdaywisdom.com.
