...stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – it’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.1
Every so often we come to a point
where we feel too weary and our goal or desired destination seemed still afar
off at which time stopping or quitting seemed to be a nice option. We should
consider, however, that although giving up appears to be an easy way out, it
will also mean putting to waste those which we have already done so far. Giving
up appeals to the weary soul who thinks that the steps ahead will be (or worries that they will be) more difficult than those already
trodden. However, the truth is we'll never know unless we try.
When we do try, the hardships we will
experience will remind us how really difficult it is. At this point, it may be
a helpful suggestion to remember why Zeno's proposition2 that
Achilles cannot outrun the turtle is called a paradox but I think there's some
significance to his reference on the halfway
mark. This is for the reason that the halfway mark is a good threshold
to reckon upon when faced with difficult tasks... because once you're past the
halfway mark, you can (almost) always muster enough energy to finish or complete
the task. I count on that every time my mountain bike ride home looks like
a daunting task for me. Not being a professional cyclist, the almost 10-mile
distance of all uphill climb is relatively "grueling" for me but I've
discovered that my body has always enough energy once I was already able to bike halfway
through, even though the steepest ascent is still on the last half mile away
from home. It's reminiscent of how Watty Piper's little engine3 who
thought it could, eventually did, triumphantly.
There may even be times when continuing the task reaches a battle of the mind
even to the point of mind over matter... the one who'll win is the
one who don't quit!
We'll really never know how
difficult the remaining part of the task-at-hand is unless we go on (head-on)
with it at which point we just need to keep pushing on, whether or not it is really
as difficult as we've imagined it to be, because supernatural help is also present4. If it turns out to be easier than what
we think, there's a bonus: the remainder of the task will be a breeze, like a walk in the park so to speak.
And there's more, when you've
already made a habit out of persevering in spite of difficulties, you can apply
this same principle in doing various tasks without looking (or waiting) for the
halfway threshold... even right from the very start. It may sound
amusing at first but I already experienced how it worked. Like the first time I
volunteered as a dishwasher for a summer camp: after breakfast of the first day
of the camp proper, I was "suddenly" faced with an overwhelming task
of cleaning 600 pieces of tumblers (and cups, and spoons and forks, and
dishes...). Unwilling to give up, I decided
to do it one-at-a-time. After washing the
first cup, I said, "only 599
remaining" [the emphasis being on the operative word only], because it causes the task to appear easier (or smaller)
than what it actually is. Then after proceeding to the next cup, "only 598 remaining." Before
long, I was done with my "daunting" task for that morning with enough
stamina looking forward to facing
those 'daunting' tasks again after lunch... and after dinner. With that
mindset, the 15-day camp was over before I even noticed it.
You see, it makes sense to make it a
habit out of always finishing your tasks even if they appear enormous or
overwhelming at first. Rewards come to those who
persevere to the end. Remember how the little engine who believed was
able to do what at first appears to
be such a formidable task. When you're already accustomed to it, you can even later say,
"bring it on!"
~ Sir Magi
If this is worthwhile or helpful to
you, leave a comment & tell others…
References:
1) https://www.thepeoplesfriend.co.uk/2020/05/24/dont-quit-an-inspiring-poem-by-edgar-a-guest/
