The P Word

Walk

I want to walk through the woods

The forest that is my world

My time

And the ones beyond that

Stretch my legs

Breathe deep

Run fast

I want to smell the growth and feel the moss under my feet

Hear the birds around me

Climb every tree

Leap with every lamb

Dance with every wolf

Some wolves twice

Cross rivers

Climb rocks

I want to know as dappled sunshine fades into night

As stars begin to twinkle over trees

As the gentle wind blows the sweet scent of life around me

As the woods go dark

That I have taken a good walk

And I am ready to rest

– Gina Valley

 

I understand stubborn.

Often, I define stubborn.

Like this week.  It’s been a tough week, a trying week.  But, I’m stubborn.  I just keep stubbornly swimming.

I’ve often told my children they might be the 2^nd most stubborn people in the world, but I am the first most.  God knew they were coming.  He designed me accordingly.

I think it’s my stubbornness that draws me to sports. So often excellent athletes harness their stubbornness, and turn it into determination and perseverance.  Sports are often excellent metaphors for life.  I don’t think there’s a better arena to demonstrate the importance of showing up than that of our many, varied athletic opportunities.

The athletes’ perseverance, their dodged determination to hang on when everyone else told them to quit, echoes the importance of showing up, being all in, and hanging on.  That’s what got the players in the Super Bowl there.  It’s what sees them through the end of the game.  It’s what will carry and push and pull them through life.

It’s that amazing capacity for perseverance so often demonstrated that sticks out in my mind.  As athletes strive to be the best at what they do, I’m reminded to do so in my own life.  To make an effort.  To take a step.  To flippin’ show up.

I’m encouraged to continue to press on when all that I’m carrying feels heavy and my path is steep. I’m reminded that even one step in the right direction is valuable.

Even. One.  Step.

Perseverance is an almost magical thing.  It’s what turns steps into marathons, words into novels, and faithfulness into life- long love.  Our capacity for perseverance truly defines us as people.

I choose to hang on today.  I hope that you do, too.

Love,

-gina

Has there been a time when you were tempted to give up, but persevered?  What happened?  Has someone inspired you with their perseverance, their stubborn determination to show up?  Shoot me a comment.  I’m looking forward to hearing all about it.