What Is Persistence?

"Siri, what is persistence?"

"Per·sist·ence - firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition."


"Kate, what is persistence?"

"Persistence is the choice you make when you've found yourself in front of another, taller wall. There's no clear way forward. It's been months or years of this same battle--running for short distances and finding yourself at walls.

No one would blame you for breaking down or throwing in the towel. Life is exhausting; it takes everything out of you.

'You've made it further than most,' they say. 'Give up on those dreams.'

And then a little voice pops into your head. It reminds you that you don't have a choice other than to continue. You're either going back the way you came or you're getting over this fucking wall.

So, you know what?

You resolve to get over the wall in front of you. You don't know how you'll do it. But you know that you're capable of figuring it out.

And on top of that, you know at a very deep level, in either direction--that this won't be the last wall to climb. You aren't hoping it will be either.

You'll climb this wall knowing there will be other walls to scale, moats to cross, and corners to talk your way out of. You don't live in a conditional future; you live now.

And so, this wall is your focus. This one right here--it's preparing you for the next one, and the next after that. Just like every wall you've already climbed has prepared you for this one.

It's just out of your reach, now. But it won't be when you're done. You'll become more skilled as you go. It doesn't matter how many times you fall, or how many bones you break on the way down--

You will get up that fucking wall.

Retreating may be a viable option for others. But it isn't an option for you.

That is persistence."

Kate Ward