Giving Up

“The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it; so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success? A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed a hopeless failure may turn into a glorious success.”

(author unknown, Second Encyclopedia, ed. Jacob M. Brand, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 

1957, p. 152)

I was told one day, as I laid on the floor exhausted after a long hard day, that giving up was okay... and then about 10 minutes later after I had accepted my failure she said, "Okay, time to get back up and keep going." I groaned and used every ounce of energy I thought had already left and got up.

Lately I feel like my life has been filled with lying on the floor in defeat.

Did I give up this week? Yes. Multiple times.

But just like the quote above said, "The line between failure and success is so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it."

How close are we when we give up?

I'd say we often are right at that line of failure and success when we decide to either give up or we get up and keep going.

So sure, I gave up a lot this week. But that also means I got up a lot and kept going this week.

While I may have felt defeat I refuse to let it overcome my life and I will continue persevering.

How do we get back up though? When I am in my darkest clouds and deepest of holes I don't even feel a desire to try to get out. I'd rather stay where I'm at and give into the anxiety and depression that encompasses me.

Thankfully I'm not the only one who cares about my happiness. My sweet husband who refuses to let me stay down will always come to my aide. My sensitive puppy dog who has literally licked my tears from my face. Friends who have checked in on me. While usually not one single attempt rescues me, they chip away at the darkness and allow me to see a light that creates a desire for me to chisel out from the inside.

From there, I grasp onto something small. This week it was work. Work was a welcome distraction that also allowed me to feel worthwhile. I also picked up knitting again. This was something small that allowed me to stay in bed and binge watch Netflix as to avoid my problems but it gave me something to do. It forced me to go out when I ran out of yarn. I started learning new techniques and when I accomplished them I felt proud and wanted to share. It was noticing my husband having a hard day and doing something small to help him. It was making the bed instead of crawling back into it.

A lot of big things sunk me to down to a pit of hopelessness.

The small things are what slowly carved out my escape.

If you are down and have given up for a time, then now is the time to get back up and come back stronger than before. Do whatever it takes to let that first glimmer of light shine through and I promise that every last bit of wall can break down. Sure it may return but when it does you will be stronger and be armed with more tools than before.

Below I linked a music video that always helps give me a little light and encouragement to keep going:

Fight Song/Amazing Grace by the Piano Guys