Perseverance
"Perseverance is being purposeful and steadfast. It is sticking to something, staying committed, no matter how long it takes or what obstacles appear to stop you… When you commit to a task, pace yourself, and be persistent, doing it step-by-step." -excerpts from The Virtues Project Educator's Guide by Linda Kavelin Popov.
I received an incredible holiday letter from my friends Howard and Amy McOmber, entitled "Merry Christmas from a Marathon Year!" Amy and Howard live the virtues; they are loving parents of four children, including nine year old Gregory, who is autistic. Their letter was full of joy in recounting the year for their family. The first paragraph exemplified Perseverance, Self-discipline, Humility, and Determination. With their permission, I am sharing it with you.
"Sometime in May, Amy told us that she and her friend Ann were going on a long run. She said she would be gone while I was at work, and that she had arranged for the kids to be picked up after school. Her long run turned out to be a private marathon. She has always wanted to do a marathon but most of them are on Sundays. We called her periodically to see how she was doing. She completed it quietly and the baby-sitter went home. Then she took a bath and that was that. This year she has competed in her first triathlon, and has gone across Lake Sammamish and back a couple of times. Often the races we run in life are quiet, crowdless places where no one cheers and we feel no one is watching. The truest reward is just completing the goal and finishing the race."
Questions for reflection:
What "personal race" do I plan to run this year?
How will I set my goals so I can persevere and do things step by step?
What other virtues will help me to persevere when things get tough?
The Virtues Project™ strategies can help children, youth and adults develop perseverance and other virtues.
January 8, 2004