PERSISTENCE IS MY MIDDLE NAME
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I am not the swiftest nor the strongest. But, like the tortoise who once
raced the hare, I am persistent. I have been known to keep at a task for
years to ensure that it was completed "come hell or high water". While
this trait can be a strength, my wife does remind me that it is often a
weakness. Sometimes you need to know when to cut your losses.
On the other hand, my dogged determination to finish what was of value
to me when first I started has lead to many good things for myself and others.
For instance, it took ten years to complete my doctorate in public
health. It is not that I wasn't motivated. I just had many other
responsibilities as an academic and practitioner working with some of
the most disadvantaged communities. Many times, I thought it was too
much to try to continue. Each time I would rest a bit and get back to
the tasks at hand. When I really hit the wall one time, a colleague
suggested that I just follow the advice I regularly gave my students. I
laughed out loud as we both enjoyed the humour of his chiding. I
finished the doctorate shortly afterwards.
I am much older now. And, perhaps wiser. I am more selective about my
persistence. There are lesser goods that others, who are younger and
better placed, can deal with over time. There are greater goods of
benefit to me, my family and my community that are still worth the
effort. For these goods, I remain persistent in my pursuit of their
attainment. Robert Browning, the poet, once made the following
observation:
Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what's a heaven for?
