The Stream Always Wins

I recently gave a motivational/career talk to a group of UH students. After my talk, one student came up and said, "I'm surprised you didn't talk about never giving up.  You should remind everyone to never, ever give up." 

I thought the concept of never giving up was so basic that I didn't need to repeat it in my talks. But he insisted that people need to hear it.  I thought about it and had to agree.  Sometimes it's the most basic concepts we tend to overlook. 

Practice perseverance.  We so often give up because it's easier to yield than go against resistance. And sometimes we're just too tired or too distracted to go after what we really want.   But it's better to remember that when things get in our way or don't go as expected, we're often being directed to another path, another point of view, another conversation.  Obstacles are not put in your path to stop you, but to guide you to something else.  Think of it not so much as being taken away from what you want, but being led to something better. We just need to be open to the possibilities that appear through perseverance.  Just like the stream that keeps on flowing, when you persevere you can carve a path around, over, or through your toughest obstacles.  And oftentimes the greater gift is in the learning along the way.

(For those who are curious about the above image, it was taken at the Lower Falls in  Yosemite.  It was a very crisp, fall morning and I can still feel the chill in the air when I look at this image.  I loved the fact that a rainbow formed as I was shooting.)

(And for those who have asked, yes, his image will soon be available for purchase on my website.  Mahalo!)