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One Word: Persistence
I take one word and expound on it in a personally meaningful way. Read my words, take a look inward, and reflect on your own thoughts and beliefs. What does this word mean to you?
Persistence is an important word in my lexicon (which is maybe 235 words in total. Yes, I’m still going to throw self-effacing jokes into this super serious piece. Yes, I really do commit to these exceptionally long narratives inside of parentheses. Shut up and read this whole thing so that I can become independently wealthy and buy a private island off of the coast of Florida with a personal chef named Harold who specializes in dry-aged steaks, port, and collared greens). Persistence is an idea that can carry me when I feel I’m not being validated. Persistence is also what keeps me even-keeled when things seem easy. I use it sort of like a balancing tool.
Persistence is what I do instead of becoming paralyzed by debilitating thoughts. I do as opposed to think.
A prime experience that shaped my idea of what persistence means occurred when I started running. I had gotten really interested in running, an ironically boring activity. I didn’t have a particular reason to run, but I was overweight and out of shape. I ran one small city block, found myself incredibly winded, and spent the next few days sore and exhausted. I knew I had to “get it back” and started running more often…
