This Week’s Calling Card: PERSEVERANCE
The Secret of a Snake Warrior Princess
This week our Calling Card is centered on perseverance. You know that quality that we talk a lot about but often forget?
The Merriam-Webster definition of perseverance (noun): The quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult.
As a kid I must have heard and the read the story of The Little Engine That Could, about a hundred times. The famous phrase, “I think I can. I think I can” is from this 1930’s children’s book. A very determined little choo-choo train that against all odds successfully helped a stranded train over a mountain (yes, I just called it a choo-choo train).
Simple as it is, this story shows that perseverance has little to do with brawn and everything to do with sheer determination.
Here’s a perfect example:
Like many people I don’t particularly like snakes. Nothing against these scaly creatures but I don’t want to be in their presence unless they’re behind glass. One day, I walked out into our sun-room and saw something in the corner of my eye. When I realized it was a snake I nearly jumped out of my skin (no pun intended).
You see, I live in the northeast, so I am not overly versed in snakes. In fact it’s pretty safe to say, I have never even been close to a wild snake - ever. I won’t exaggerate and tell you it was 7 feet long and could have eaten my dog but it was big enough to freak me out. It was doing that creepy snake thing and moving sideways toward me and fast!
My biggest fear was that it would get into the house and get lost. If that happened I would pretty much have taken my family and headed anywhere but home. Determined not to let that happen, I ran inside, got a broom, dust pan and plastic container and went to work without thinking much. My kids (and I’m pretty sure, my husband) were cowering inside behind closed doors. Not me – I was like a snake warrior princess armed with my broom and ready for war.
After what seemed to be an eternity, I scooped him (or her) up into the container, headed outside and threw it over the fence. My heart was pumping, my hands were sweaty but my mission was accomplished. Defeat was never an option. Not for one minute.
Why am I telling you this story? Well, if the circumstances were different, I may not have been so driven. But in this case, I knew that I would not stop until I completed what I set out to do.
You may call it stick-to-it-iveness, tenacity or grit but I just call it – sheer perseverance.
Was this experience fun? That’s a big “NO” but I even surprised myself. While I try to instill perseverance in my kids, this experience taught me that I can do anything too if I keep my eye on the prize.
It seems that the higher the stakes, the more the drive and the bigger the reward. I know the same applies to you and whatever you want to accomplish. So go out there and slay whatever it is you want - you warrior you!
"Perseverance is stubbornness with a purpose." Josh Shipp
Drive. Determination. Perseverance. Stopping is not an option!
