The Power of Perseverance
In every person's life, problems occur. Some are small, but others take on the proportions of Mount Everest. I've faced both types in my thirty-four years, and if I’ve learned anything, it’s that perseverance is key.
My husband was laid off from work for an extended period of time in 2009 and 2010. To say that it was tough was an understatement. We lost our health insurance and over 50% of my husband’s weekly pay. Unemployment paid him a fraction of what he had earned at his job, and it became a struggle just to pay our bills. We tried everything we could think of to get by. We went to the local Salvation Army store, bought brand-named clothing and sold it on Ebay, cut costs wherever we could, and worked with our creditors to reduce or postpone payments. And still we struggled. We applied for public assistance but were declined because my income, even though it wasn’t enough to sustain us, was too high. It was one of our darkest times, seemingly without end.
In January of 2010, in another attempt to make money, I started writing. I completed my first novel in about four months. By November, it had been published and I had two other manuscripts completed. It was tough to do, because during that time, I went to college part-time, worked full-time, took care of my family and held another part-time weekend job. But I did it, and I’m proud of that.
This experience taught me to never stop trying. Never bow down to fate and admit defeat. Never give up. There’s always something out there to do, always an avenue to explore. It taught me to hang on, by my teeth if I had to, and keep going. It’s something I won’t ever forget.