I often wonder what generates incredible perseverance in some people—and perhaps less in others. For myself, I find it sometimes comes and goes like the WiFi at our house. As I age, the more it seems tied to my health—or lack thereof. If I am not in pain and am feeling well, I can persevere like an elite-level athlete. No matter the chore, task or daunting job ahead, it is no match for me. I can push through exhaustion, tackle long lists, and somehow still find momentum. Even when I am hurting or have more to tackle than I can reasonably conceive, I generally still rise to the occasion. Yet there are times when defeat quietly creeps in. Motivation fades. Weariness settles deeper than simple fatigue. In those moments, I am left to ponder what wellspring I am supposed to draw from to regain that elusive grit and determination. I’m sure everyone experiences this now and then.
I have incredible respect and admiration for those who seem to possess never-ending strength as a rock-steady characteristic of their essence, but my question remains: from where does it spring? Is it the human spirit that somehow spurs one onward during extreme adversity? Is it the brain itself—a collection of electrical impulses and deeply-rooted instincts inherited from generations before us, designed to help us survive? Or is it something greater entirely? Divine intervention, perhaps: God or angels quietly stepping in when our own strength begins to fail….
I have multiple friends who have been dealing with more than their share of trials, hardships and hurdles in recent years, and I am simply in awe of how they endure and forge ahead, even as more troubles pile on. Some carry grief that never fully leaves them. Others battle illness, financial strain, heartbreak or uncertainty that would flatten many people. Yet they continue to show up for work, for family, for friends, and for life itself. They keep moving forward, sometimes gracefully and sometimes limping emotionally toward the next day, but forward nonetheless.
Perhaps perseverance is not always the bold, cinematic courage we imagine it to be. Maybe it is quieter than that. Maybe it looks like getting out of bed when your heart is heavy. Maybe it is choosing to try again after disappointment, or deciding not to surrender to bitterness after life has been unfair. Perhaps perseverance is less about never breaking and more about repeatedly gathering the pieces and continuing on. That’s what I see my friends doing, and I am beyond blessed to know them and draw strength from their example when I occasionally struggle.
I may never know exactly where perseverance originates. But the older I get, the more I realize it’s among the most important attributes one can possess, and for me, quitting is simply not an option. Procrastination, on the other hand… probably! Whatever works, right?
