Want to know my secret?
Hey rebellious ones!
It’s perseverance.
When I set my sights on something, I take a personal vow not to give up. 99% of the time, whatever I want to happen does indeed happen. But only because I didn’t give up. I didn’t give in to that human tendency to “run back to mommy” at the slightest bump in the road.
It wasn’t always that way. I used to throw up my hands in fake disgust and give up really easily. I gave up jobs and boyfriends and hobbies. I gave up living my best life. Looking back I can see that either I didn’t really want those things or I didn’t really want to fight for those things because I could have had them with a bit more determination and grit. True grit, that is.
A few months back I wrote about the 120-acres of gorgeous land, a group of us in my town were trying to save. We hit a lot of bumps. It became mentally exhausting at times going over the bumps. Thinking we cleared one bump only to find bumps lining the road as far as we could see. Although fatigued at times, I never considered tossing in the “I can’t do this anymore” towel.
Instead we persevered. We kept chugging along, like the little engine that could.
On Monday night, 652 people came to our town meeting and over 579 stood up to vote yes to save the land. One friend described the event as “electrifying.” Getting more than 150 people at a Town Meeting is a minor miracle in and of itself these days. That’s why I LOVE the town I live in. We’ve got people who care, if you give them a reason to. Some gave eloquent speeches. And some gave dissenting speeches. Everything a fiery Town Meeting ought to have in a democracy.
It all returns to what I call finding your Fearless Why, that theme that weaves its way through your life. When I’m in my Fearless Why Zone very little can stop me. If you’ve got a moment, check out my guest post at the fabulous MEN WITH PENS. (I’m determined to do guest posts everywhere!)
And I’m also determined to get my “Wake Up and Contribute Non-Institute Institute” up and running. I want to wake folks up to their own lives, to their own power, to their own contributions to the world, to their own “best life” as my always insightful commenter J.D. mentioned recently on my post about Forwarding Young Girls Out of Poverty.
Now, it’s your turn. What have you or what would you like to persevere at?
Muse thx, Giulietta
p.s. for those of you in the Greater Boston area, please consider my latest fun life shop, Be Good To Yourself This Holiday Season.
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That is an awesome story. Go you!
Paulo Coelho calls your Fearless Why (love that, by the way) a personal legend (which I also love).
As for my FW/PL, I’m in the tube, five by five. two chapters to go on the 2nd draft of the mss and getting ready to pop the champagne.
For the record, this made my day.
Hey Michael!
Gigantic congrats on your novel. That’s super that you’re so close to finishing the second draft. Will you share your virtual Champagne with us?
I read and enjoyed the Alchemist. Good book. Here is a great quote from the book that illuminates why we need to release each other and ourselves from non-FW/PL bondage and get going:
“Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him. We… seldom say much about those treasures, because people no longer want to go in search of them. Later, we simply let life proceed, in its own direction, toward its own fate. But, unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them- the path to their Personal Legends, and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place.”
many thx for this reminder, G.
Trying to write a book while raising two small boys nearly breaks me on a daily basis… but perseverance is saving me.
Hi Angie,
This blog attracts many fine writers! Just love that. Writing itself is a rebellious act.
Your book will be terrific. Congrats on staying connected to your FW/PL. Look forward to reading your book and Michael’s!
Isn’t it great to have perseverance as a friend cheering you on?
Enjoy! G.
That is wonderful that you were able to save the land!! THe community will benefit from it in so many ways.
I always look to see what people are willing to fight for – if they are willing to fight for anything. It is interesting to see how peple will fight for security or safety sometimes regardless of the price to themselves or others… I love to see people fighting for nature, for community, for kids, for their dreams… fighting to walk their own path!
Hey TE,
Now that you mention it, it’s interesting to see what folks do fight for. In my little corner of the world, we’ve got a great group trying to save what’s unique and beautiful on our planet, starting with our own backyard.
You are so right that you have to fight to walk your own path. The pressure to walk the beaten path can be overwhelming!
Much thanks, G.
Congratulations, G! You are amazing. I’m so glad the story had a good ending, and I’ve been thinking about that piece of land ever since you wrote about it. Your perseverance is inspiring.
Patty,
Good to hear from you! I think your ongoing good thoughts for the land helped us. Thanks for being such a nature lover.
G.
Hey G,
I appreciate – there’s that darn word again 😉 – the way you always seem to dig in deep and find the electricity in the perseverance. That’s a true gift and it’s available to everyone one of us. Doesn’t cost a penny.
Thanks for being awesome!
Paul,
You always bring the gift of appreciation wherever you go! Everyone has a Fearless Why, maybe that’s yours? I like how you remind us that these wonderful human traits are indeed gifts. You are so right — these are the real gifts we ought to be giving each other on the holidays of our lives. Thanks as always for your generous comment. G.
Congratulations on your victory the other night!
Good post on not giving up; a topic worth pursuing more. People give up on their dreams for various reasons. And it’s no surprise that some of your commenters are writers, like myself. Working on a long project alone, it’s easy to have doubts along the way. How do we persevere under these conditions? Being part of a community with similar interests/goals helps. Not having that years ago was a reason I had given up on writing. And in your case with the land, community was an important feature of you perseverance package.
Hi Writer Sally!
Thanks.
You’ve just given me a good idea for a new life shop. One on perseverance. I didn’t think of it until you gloriously mentioned it.
I so agree with you about having a community to help you. It’s what humans need to move towards the best life can offer. Yet, there’s a move to deconstruct community.
And of course you reminded me of a sociology class I taught years ago and my favorite module was COMMUNITY. That will be in my perseverance class!
Maybe I also need to form a rebellious writers group?
Triple thanks Sally. Hope to see you soon to talk more about this stuff and your novel. Karaoke, maybe? You can hear my latest Donna Summer renditions …
G.
I love your secret! And I’m glad for the happy ending..thank you for sharing!
I am currently allowing for amazing transformation in my life..getting ready to host an online class in January..creating affirmation cards to guide “regular” folks to open their hearts to their dream life..getting ready to head out on the talk circuit as a motivational speaker..all as the single mom of two young children..
My life is truly as magical as I allow it to be..I’m done limiting myself for others..Just told someone I want the meteor showers to be my nightlights when I nap..yes, I do!!!!
Hi Joy,
Glad to have you back here. Always en”joy” your comments – bursting with meteor showers!
I will visit your site to learn more about your programs and talks.
Congrats on throwing off the blanket of limitations. You’ll be fabulous out there. I so agree with your line “My life is truly as magical as I allow it to be.” Allow is the key.
Appreciate all that is you! G.
Well put. There is a ton of power in perseverance.
The other day, I heard that ever so powerful phrase, “Never give up” and it reminded me of just that.
Hey J.D.,
I love how you say “power in perseverance.” Perseverance really greats an almost unbreakable momentum. It’s so true what that phrase says, “never give up!” I would not have published any of my essays if I’d given up …
Thanks for being such a great commenter. G.
Great post and great story. It really is amazing that so many people came and engaged in a town meeting. Definitely impressive. I really liked this post because it was a great pointer to our own motivation. It is so easy to fall into the trap of getting discouraged and feeling that things are not falling into place as they should. However, we do have to always keep pushing forward and have the patience to allow things to unfold as they should. We have confidence that things will fall into place and a willingness to wait because deep down we know there are certain things we were meant to do. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Sibyl!
Discouragement – now that’s a worthy topic. Thank you for bringing it up. Didn’t even think of that stage.
I find that’s the pre-almost there stage, the time when folks can sometimes get scared “IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.” When I look at discourage – I now see “dis — courage.” Folks start to lose courage or dis it in someway.
Why not keep going until you can’t go anymore knowing it’s what you are meant to do, like you suggest? Super advice.
Appreciate you stopping in so regularly! Thx, G.
Giulietta, I remember your post about the land very well, and I’m so happy to hear how all your struggles to preserve it are paying off. There’s a case in point that if something is really worth fighting for, you don’t give up.
Don’t give up is my motto in life – that is, not if you truly believe in something, someone, or an ideal. Sometimes, I admit, I get discouraged, but it’s this very act of discouragement that has a contrary effect on me. Next, I flash back with, It CAN be done, there has to a way/a solution though it may take time and effort to find it.
I have written several books – all unpublished – so far. One, I wrote 18 years ago and am revising for the tenth time. I tried over and over to find representation but couldn’t despite glowing reviews, put it in the closet several years, then decided to give it another go. I won’t give up until I see it in print. Why? Because I really believe in it. As you say above, why not keep going until you can’t go anymore because it’s what you are meant to do?
Or, as good old Winston Churchill said way back in Britain’s darkest days – and finest hours, “Never, never, never, never give up!”
I love your life motto not to give up! From all I know about you — it’s quite accurate. hmmm. now that’s something you could lead as a seminar or something – giving up seems to be the default these days or worse, not even getting started.
Your book is what the words needs — I can feel it! Thanks for staying the course with it.
G.