Perseverance

Perseverance is one part stubbornness, one part endurance and one part self-confidence. A human life is not like a river within its banks, which can be readily channeled or dammed to suit purpose. A human  life is like an expanding pond with often unclear boundaries, through which the conscious mind must navigate to achieve happiness. This takes perseverance, especially for those whose lives are not privileged or sheltered by fortunate birth.

Many choose not to persevere. They surrender to a conformity which keeps them safer from harm or loss. Many with little or no education simply do what they are told by those who are more powerful. Others get involved with crime in an attempt to escape a hard life, which they see as inevitable under the circumstances of their birth or personal characteristics.

I have learned to balance my perseverance with a hard look at reality in order to maintain my personal happiness. My experiences with AIDS and cancer were great lessons. Perseverance was essential to my recovery, but I also had to accept the harsh realities of the altered body I was left with after those experiences. Accepting the hard realities allowed me cherish, nurture and rebuild this new body, all I ultimately am in this world.

When I meet young people, I am impressed with their vitality and great plans. That vitality can provide the endurance which can achieve great things. Yet it can easily get derailed into the pursuit of things instead of sustainable joy, based in living human values of fairness and peace. Perseverance alone cannot not achieve sustainable joy. It must always be guided by personal truth, gained from a practice of daily reflection and internal honesty. Changing course is often more valuable than persevering on a course unworthy of the best human values.