Author: Michael Tino

Sometimes we get by through sheer will, through persisting despite the odds against us. Sometimes, we need to hang on and inch ourselves forward until we are somewhere better.

What do you need in order to hang on through today?

When do you decide to give up? When it’s hard? When you no longer want to meet your goal? It’s ok to give up, it isn’t a failure. But if you have one more try within, persist. Keep going. Obtaining your goal, something you deeply desire, is worth the effort of trying.  -JeKaren Olaoya (CLF)

When have you chosen to persist towards a goal even though you were tired and it was hard?

I never liked to practice piano as a kid, maybe because I did not know how to be persistent. I always wanted and hoped for a quick reward, and never quite connected that my mediocre playing was directly related to my haste. As an adult, I’m all about being slow, steady, patient, yet determined; and I enjoy playing piano soooooo much more!  -Beth Murray (CLF)

How do we help people to be more persistent?

I remember when my toddlers would ask me for something over and over and over. At the time, it seemed funny, cute, and also (eventually) annoying. But now I realize that they were practicing persistence, a skill they would be able to use throughout their lives as they advocate for themselves and for others, for liberty and justice. How amazing that cute little toddler ways can turn into practices that can change the world. -Jody Malloy (CLF)

How can you learn about persistence from children?

Justice requires persistence. It requires fortitude to speak truth to power, sometimes again and again and again, until that truth is understood.

How have you experienced someone speaking truth to power?