Happiness is Persistence & Perseverance

 

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. ~ Thomas Carlyle

Originally published June, 2014

Hello my friends, tonight I want to talk about persistence and perseverance. I believe persistence and perseverance are keys to happiness. First, we need to persevere through the hard times. Life throws us curves; we will be hit by all manner of calamity, injury and illness in our lives. Perseverance is the key to getting through these times because they will pass, no matter how fierce the storm, it will always pass. Persistence is the next skill you need, because in order to accomplish the things we want and need to accomplish in life we need to be persistent.

This has particular relevance for me in two ways right now. First, I’ve been neglectful of my genetic predispositions and my diet and have let my blood sugar climb back up to Type 2 Diabetic levels. The recent death of my uncle of a heart attack, also a type 2 diabetic, truly drives home the serious nature of this condition. So I have to be persistent right now, I have to watch my diet, I have to lose weight. The real persistence for me is on the diet front, exercising has never been a problem for me. But I love pizza and coca-cola, not to mention as some of Irish and Italian decent pasta and potatoes were at one time staples in my diet. All of these are off the map right now, but without a doubt it is difficult for me not to grab a coke when I’m thirsty or needing a pick up. For now however, it cannot happen and I must be persistent in eating right to both lower my blood sugar levels, lose weight and to stay off of medication.

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. ~ Calvin Coolidge

The other reason persistence is on my mind right now is that my next goal in life is to hike the length of the Appalachian Trail (AT), all 2200 miles next spring. So I’ve begun training, which happily has coincided with my dietary and weight loss needs. I plan on being in excellent shape at the beginning of the trail next spring. I will also soon begin doing some posts entitled Appalachian Trail Happiness about my research and preparation, these posts will continue throughout the year and into next spring from the trail.

Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th. ~ Julie Andrews

All of this corresponds with turning 50 this year, and although I’ve been tossed a curve or two, I will persist and persevere in order to continue having happy days my friends, my wish for you is always the same. ~ Rev Kane