DOGGED PERSEVERANCE

A couple of months ago the impetus for the subject for my blog was my young friend who was dismayed because she seemed to only be attracting losers (A PROMISE KEPT, March 26, 2013).  My advice to her was that it wouldn't always be this way and things would get better.  She was so sad, that I was forced to go in my closet and bring out stories of some of the losers I had dated back in the day just to prove my point.

Wellll....I am happy to report that things have gotten better for her.  She shortly thereafter met a young man who seems to be a REALLY NICE guy.  My friend is a very nice young lady and I think the world her.  She has shown me pictures of him and her together and they are simply the cutest couple. 

He's gainfully employed.  Very important.  He is a cutie.  Important.  And, he seems totally smitten with her.  She showed me one picture of him standing with his arm around her and he is looking all doe-eyed as if he can't really believe he has met someone so wonderful.  You know that pinch me to see if it's real look.  And, to date he has truly doted on her.  (I always say, find someone who adores you and then...let him.)

I am mindful of the scenario of a house being newly constructed.  Before the building even takes on any shape or semblance of a recognizable structure, the workers constructing the house spend a lot of time in the mud.  Sometimes, that happens to us.  We have to spend a lot of time in the mud working out and working on stuff before it all comes together.  And, the operative word is "working".  Even when it is not going well for us, we have to keep on working to bring it all together.  Things only fall out of the sky for a few people; the rest of us have to work hard to pull it together.

When my friend was attracting losers, it was because that was the aura she was sending.  Once she decided to pause, look inward and work on herself and her goals, things started to come together for her.  We can't really expect to attract all that's good without working for it.  A great and fulfilling career doesn't just happen; we have to set goals, go to school, work on degrees and accreditations, send out hundreds of resumes, network, and make cold calls.  Before we can buy a house, we have to build up our credit by saving and paying our bills on time.  We can't retire with enough income unless we set up a savings plan and do the hard work of lifelong budgeting.  We improve our health by eating right, exercising and getting proper rest.  All of these things require sacrifice, hard work and sticktoitiveness.  In other words, dogged perseverance.

Iyanla Vanzant said that when her whole life fell apart, she had to do the hard work necessary to put her life back together.

Let's not be fooled by looking at the greener grass on the other side of the fence.  It takes a lot of work to get that grass that green.


Peace