“Ninety percent of those who fail are not actually defeated.
They simply quit.”
~ Paul J. Meyer
Sometimes I want to...
- Quit having my quiet time in the afternoon.
(Oh, the things I could do with that hour!) - Or quit homeschooling.
(Even though I’m almost finished, do I even know what I’m doing yet?) - Or quit working out three times a week.
(What’s the point, really?)
But I can’t.
I’m not finished yet.
How to walk to Cleveland
Starting something is not an event; it’s a series of events.
You decide to walk to Cleveland. So you take a first step in the right direction. That’s starting. You spend the rest of the day walking toward Cleveland, one step at a time, picking your feet up and putting them down. At the end of the day, twenty miles later, you stop at a hotel.
And what happens the next morning?
Either you quit the project or you start again, walking to Cleveland. In fact, every step is a new beginning. Sure, you’re closer than you were yesterday or last week, but you’re still heading toward Cleveland.
Keep starting until you finish.
~ Seth Godin, Poke the Box
So I start again.
A fresh day.
Another step.
Until I’m finished.
Lord,
Help me not to quit until you say, “Done!”
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
* * *
Are you walking to Cleveland?
What do you keep starting, one step at a time?
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13 comments:
It would be so nice if that initial start had enough momentum to carry us all the way through without having to restart along the way.
I agree, Barbara. But at least after awhile (in some things) the starts do build into a habit and we don’t have to consciously make the decision anymore. But unfortunately some remain forever like a first step. Every workout day I battle with myself on whether or not to do it. Other things—like eating a mid-afternoon snack, come quite naturally with no battle at all. :-)
Thanks, Lisa - I needed this perspective today. It came after some quiet time with the Lord and confirmed what I felt I had just heard from Him.
Persevering as I walk to "my Cleveland"!
Hugs -
Lynn
I'm too stubborn to quit. I keep going until something like my legs fall off or something. I've been known to hike until my entire body hurts. Just too stubborn to quit even if the odds are stacked against me. So keep going.
I completely understand this. For me I keep starting my journal writing. I do well for a few months and then life gets crazy and I miss a few days, then weeks, etc...Even though I pray often throughout the day my journal writing becomes a prayer time and can be much deeper.
I keep starting to keep my house clean. Or to not spend all my time on the internet. Or to wake up in the mornings. It seems I spend most of my time starting again.
But I've noticed over the years that as I keep starting again, the stopping becomes less frequent and the starting takes less energy.
What a neat way to put it--I'm so glad you shared this idea!
I love that Philippians verse. Thank you :)
RAH! So many things I want to quit (or even END would be a good word too) but no... I WILL NOT quit...AS Winston Churchill said in his very famous words..." "Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in....I remember that, and "whatsoever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might."...and Give it all you Got...and I can NOT leave out the Marine one...DO or DIE...so Lord help me, when I want to quit SO BAD...to remember Lisa's post and words... :-) Thanks bloggy sis! xo
Great thoughts here, Lisa. What I need to keep starting is my writing life. I will be attending that part of me over the next two weeks.
I have had some "want to quit" moments in the past few months. It's all about perspective, right? I needed that reminder that I might not be there yet, but I'm closer than when I started. :)
Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm walking, running, resting with you Lisa :D
I loved how you brewed up a great mix of inspiration, including the Phil. verse & your own "walking" steps.
Mine are: cooking dinner every night (yes, Lisa, I'm a newbie at doing this every night since becoming a mom 5 years ago!), keeping faith fresh and writing!
What a great post. I really like this perspective. Thank you for the lovely verses and quote to go with it, as well.
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