Monkey Bars, Tenacity, Challenge and Redirection

Allow me to share a story with you. The story of a little girl who wouldn’t quit trying to cross the monkey bars on the school playground until she successfully made it from one end to the other without falling. Every time she slipped, she got back up, dusted herself off, and started from the beginning. She kept this up… over and over and over again. Her small hands began to blister and burn, but still she kept trying. She was determined to succeed. She stayed later than she should have at the playground. She was supposed to walk home with her sister. When the little girl did not arrive home, her mother came looking for her. At the school, the mother approached her daughter with the intention of admonishing the child for disobedience. She walked across the schoolyard, onto the playground and watched her determined child as she fell, exhausted and frustrated. But the child got back up and tried again. The mother watched this scenario repeat itself several times. Finally, the little girl succeeded, and the illuminating smile of victory that spread across her face warmed the mother’s heart. She did not punish her daughter. How could she? And so, it was a very satisfied little girl (me) that went home with her mother.

I believe this story is a good example of not giving up and embracing challenge. It doesn’t matter if I don’t know something because I have the capability to learn… and so do you. If I fail at something I keep trying until I no longer fail, or I otherwise redirect my focus. The little girl me might keep going but the adult me realizes the value of redirecting focus. Maturity has taught me to eliminate or reduce wasted effort whenever possible. Of course, the challenge is in knowing when to raise the white flag. This is not quitting. It takes courage, fortitude, and strength to admit it is time to move on to something (or someone) else. There is no shame in redirecting your attentions. In fact, you should. The Serenity Prayer written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr says it best:

I believe that sums it up nicely.