When the Going Gets Tough… The Tough Don’t Quit

When the going gets tough… The tough don’t quit…

Have you ever wanted something really bad in your life? Have those things been or sometimes feel like they’ve been so far out of reach? Have they just seemed so impossible to obtain and/or achieve?

If you’re anything like me, they have…

As mentioned in a previous post, I remember this one time in elementary school, I was in the sixth grade. We were having the school olympics. There were different events like the 100 yard dash, a relay, and shot put. I wanted so badly to compete, but it was the reward of possibly earning a medal that intrigued me most of all. So I put my name on the list. One being the shot put, and I don’t really remember what other event it was. 

The excitement and anticipation a couple of weeks before just rose in my being. I’ll be honest, I was very nervous to be participating, but I was determined that I was going to do it anyway.

The day of the events finally arrived and if I can remember correctly, it was a beautiful, bright, and sunny day. All of the students and participants had gathered around to watch. And the teachers were all equipped with whistles around their necks to signify the start of the games. 

I was all set to participate in the shot put when a classmate came up to me and started asking me if I really wanted to do this? I think she was trying to discourage me from doing the event. She was never very nice to me. And it seems as though she thought she was little miss perfect that just because she actually played softball, she thought she could do better than I would. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt that she did have an advantage over me. I just stood my ground, determined that I was going to do this. I had my heart set on it. 

It came to be my turn. I picked up the mini bowling like ball and brought it up to my ear ready to throw. I could feel my heart pounding at what I was about to do. The whistle blew and I extended my arm and released the ball as hard as I could throw it. Well, it only landed about three feet in front of me. The classmate who was trying to discourage me threw the ball and it went about an approximate of ten to fifteen feet. Disappointed I didn’t win a medal that day, I stood there and watched the rest of the games proud of myself that I didn’t quit and had participated as I wanted to do.

Another time I remember was when I was very young. I wanted to walk down the stairs like mommy and daddy did without holding onto the railing. I walked down the hallway to the top of the stairs. Nervously, I put my foot out to land on the first step. I must’ve had all my weight shifted forward, as the next thing I knew I was tumbling down. And believe me, I tumbled all the way down to the bottom. I think I actually reached the bottom before my mom realized what was happening. She picked me up and comforted me. I felt better, but to this day I still have a fear of stairs, *and* I go up and down a flight of stairs at least twice a day. I’ll be honest in saying that I walk down with both feet on one stair, but I still walk down. 

Similar to the stairs, I am also scared of escalators. Going up is not so bad. Going down, is a totally different story. It’s the moving downhill of the stairs that scare me. I stand at the top, nervous as all else. I think I even hold my breath for a few seconds. I put one hand on either side of the railing. I look at the floor at the bottom of the stairs. It takes what seems like a handful of stairs before I can muster up enough courage to put one foot in front of the other. I’ll even test the waters so to speak a few times. Slowly and finally I stick my foot out to the stair below. Next as the heel of my other foot raises, I gently place my foot on the same stair. Breathe a sigh of relief, and down I go. 

I remember the student creed from when I was in the martial arts. It was written by the master instructor himself, Steve Doss…

“I am developing myself in a positive manner. 

Gaining self discipline, self control, and the yes I can attitude.

Quitters never win. Winners never quit. I choose to be a winner.  

I’m a student in a black belt school. I am dedicated and motivated. I’m on a quest to be  my best.”

I’ve never been really good at thinking I can do something. I’ll be honest, most of the time I tell myself I can’t. It’s taken a lot of hard work and courage to get to where I am today. I’m so happy with myself. I’m a fighter. And I’m getting stronger everyday.