DARRYL M. GWALTNEY-BEY-62

PERSEVERANCE THE KEY

Not enough could be written or stated about how the ability to persevere is essential to overcoming the obstacles that life hurls our way on a daily basis. The ability to persevere is so fundamental in human existence, that it is best to use - as an example - an infant's plight in the growing process, to reveal how innate this ability is.

As we grow into adulthood it seems as it we forget, with each passing year, the struggles of the preceding years. So by the time we become young adults the experience of the harsh realities of the "here and now" dominates our faculties.

To reflect on ourselves as babies, we simply need to observe our sons and daughters; nieces and nephews; or any child of a relative or friend to see our most powerful example of perseverance.

We observe that though the infant is immobile in terms of their ability to roam - she will continuously kick her little legs and flail her little arms in repetitions, like a weight lifter, building strength - bench-pressing and curling with every motion.

After enduring the crib, and building strength by isometric exercises, the baby is placed at the lowest level - the floor - where she learns to crawl on hands and knees, a perfect posture of stability (like a table, a chair, or her crib had four legs).

She masters this mode of mobility, then seeks a more, perfect posture of balance, and a more difficult mode of self-transport - walking.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." Her first step will be the easiest of the many she will take, because it will come with the support of mom or dad, or both.

But her adventurous pursuits are marred with obstacles, barriers, stumbles, falls, scrapes, scratches, bruises, and mistakes before balance is achieved, and walking unassisted is mastered.

She quickly learns that mom and dad are not her only options for a support system as she endeavours to stand upright and balanced; so she hugs the walls, clutches the furniture, and seek out anything stationary to help and support her efforts for mobility.

Her curiosity an inborn desire to explore those areas where the big people vanish like a puff of smoke, and disappear into the vast unknown are rewarded due to her perseverance. The falling and getting back up; trying, and trying again finally pays off. Her little face is aglow as he gazes in awe at - the kitchen.

The ability to persevere is an attribute in our infancy and it is never lost, only misplaced. We need only a thorough search of self to find that which is deeply rooted in self, and use it for the progress of self.