Endure

One of life’s most difficult challenges is simply enduring.  Trying to do what is right, to be our best selves, to overcome life’s obstacles while maintaining a positive attitude, can be difficult.  There are so many enticing “exits” in life that encourage us to get off of our path of success and instead wallow in misery and failure.  I think probably each of us at some time in our lives does take an exit here or there that we regret but the great thing is we can always get back on the road if and when we choose to. 

One of my favorite thoughts has always been that you cannot defeat the person who never gives up.  Life often times requires this of us—to not give up.  And try what it may, if we never give up, we will never lose.  Keeping faith, hope, and understanding that life will always have its ups and downs is important.  Life is hard, difficult, cruel, and unfair but despite these truths, we still can choose our own success and happiness in it. 

A similar thought that I enjoy is luck favors the persistent.  If we continue on our path despite its difficulties, we will come out on top.  I believe too many of us give in too easily.  When life doesn’t go our way, according to our plan, we give up, complain, pout, criticize, and dwell on the inequalities life brings.  We wonder what we did wrong, who is against us, and if we will ever be able to survive.  In these moments it is often a good idea to think instead of “why me”, “why not me?”  All of us will deal with some challenges, that is a guarantee in life, but we should be grateful for them because things could always be worse.  There is only one person who has had the most difficulties and the biggest challenges in life and the rest of us should feel lucky.  I know it is hard but notwithstanding our many challenges, we can overcome, we can continue, we can persist.  We can grin and bare life’s challenges and allow them to help reach even greater success.   Again, it is not easy, or at times even seems possible, but when we take the difficult times one day at a time, and simply try our best each day, we will succeed. 

When life gets you down, know that you cannot be defeated, know that you can be triumphant!  Life has its moments we want to forget, but also those we hope and pray to always remember.  Remember those best moments as you push through your trials with faith that the good times will soon come again. Enduring seems like such an unlikely prospect when life is most difficult but we can do it.  Those who learn to endure well in life will find great joy, satisfaction, and success despite its hardships.