Ben is a white-haired man whose house I pass on my errands route. He always calls out a friendly greeting, and over time, we’ve become good friends. His cheerful demeanor and lively personality make him a joy to be around, despite our age difference.
Last spring, Ben slipped on a wet bathroom floor, fell backwards, and hit his head hard. The impact brought on a stroke that resulted in recurring dizzy spells and headaches, blurred vision, permanent damage to his left eye, and loss of stamina.
After his granddaughter phoned with the news, I went to visit Ben in the hospital. I had pictured a sad, sullen Ben greeting me from his wheelchair, but to my surprise, I was met by a smile. Ben waved me over to his chair with his usual enthusiasm. His speech was slow and halting and he was evidently in some pain, but Ben’s glowing smile never faded. We enjoyed a wonderful time together, sprinkled with Ben’s laughter and fresh sense of humor. How could he still be so upbeat after such a debilitating accident?
As if he knew what I was thinking, Ben touched my arm and said, “You know, Elsa, my dad is already 100 years old, but he’s stronger than I am. Recently he fell down a flight of stairs. Most people his age would have died instantly or at least suffered permanent injury. Not Dad! Instead, he immediately got up, turned around, and walked back up the stairs.” My mouth dropped open. “I may not have my dad’s physical strength,” Ben continued, “but I can share his strength of spirit! I’m getting back up again!”
I had a lot to think about on my way home. How many times, when stepping out to try something new, make a lifestyle change, or pursue a goal, have I lost my footing and taken a fall? And how many times have I lain there questioning whether I had the strength or will to get up and try again? But each time that I refused to give up, I found deep within me enough strength to get back up.
Failure, disappointments, and setbacks are all part of life, but I can refuse to allow them to get the best of me. As Ben said that day, “As long as I live, I have the choice to not give up!”
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It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. — Albert Einstein
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them. — George Bernard Shaw
Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing until it gets there. — Josh Billings
The drops of rain make a hole in the stone not by violence but by oft falling. — Lucretius
Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. — Author Unknown
Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer. — André A. Jackson
Let perseverance be your engine, and hope your fuel. — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Copyright © 2012 by Motivated