Sticktoitiveness.  Determination.  Tenacity. Grit.

Call it what you like, we all have it in us.  If we didn’t, we’d have given up a long time ago.  Instead, we all continue to wake up, put feet to floor, and doggedly pursue whatever it is we’ve each chosen to do.  And let’s be clear – we’re all making the choice to do whatever it is we’re doing with our lives. For some of us that means diving into our passions with clarity of purpose. For others (maybe most), that means trying to figure out our passions and how to live purposefully.  For both, it takes determination to keep going.

Sticking to something has been a life long challenge for me.  Part of my struggle is being curious and having interest in a lot of subjects.  It makes me a Jill of All Trades, but truly a master of none.  A short list of the activities on my Life Resume: painting, ballet dancing, tap dancing, fly fishing, pillow sewing, gift wrapping, political consulting, improv performing, guitar playing, singing, and so on.

Some of them, like improv, I’ve only tried for the novelty of giving something new a go.  Some, like pillow making,  I’ve stopped actively pursuing because they were time consuming, expensive and ultimately not my calling.  Others, like guitar, I’ve half-heartedly tried several times and quit before ever really getting started.  Still, I think of my thirst for variety as a virtue because my varied interests have allowed me to connect with some really amazing people and form some solid, lifelong friendships.

On the flip side, there is an ugly truth: I have allowed myself to be a quitter.  It’s true. When the going got tough, I’ve bailed.  Either by finding a new interest and abandoning whatever hobby I was pursuing or by letting someone’s feedback discourage me instead of using it as fuel for improvement.  To be really great at anything, it requires focus, time, and a willingness to be vulnerable in the pursuit of bettering whatever it is you want to do.   Ok, so I was probably never going to be an amazing fly fisher-woman, but maybe I could have been a ballerina if I hadn’t allowed myself to walk away from dance the first time I was every really challenged by my teacher.

So, here I challenge myself…and you.    Decide what you want to do and fully commit yourself to the process.  Even the uncomfortable parts.  Be open to receiving criticism. Believe that both the mere naysayer and the wise mentor have been brought to you to spur growth and to allow you to better yourself.  Whatever it is you decide to do, be tenacious.

Suggested Musical Pairing (to enhance your reading pleasure):