Every wants it. And everyone wants it now. The quick fix. The fast sale. The get-rich quick scheme. The lose weight by some miraculous drug. What ever happened to hard work? Patience? Paying dues? Why is everyone is such a rush to “be” the future when the present is being completely ignored? Every day when I open social media, I am bombarded with something. I feel like I’m living in Brave New World. The pill that will cheer me up. The drink that will make me skinny overnight. The scheme that will really sell my books. Ads upon ads upon ads. And it’s eating us alive until we are dead shells. The pressure. The noise. The friends grabbing the gold rings really made of straw. We want to be the best. We want to look good. We want to succeed. But let’s work for it. Sweat. Grab the yoga mat and get to the gym. Put on some sneakers and hike. Eat what we wish to be. Grab an apple. Put color in your diet, green especially. Work hard. Get up with work ethic. Set goals. Write them down if you have to. Check them off as you go. And don’t cut down people or corners. Feed your mental health with reading and writing and healthy habits. Surround yourself with friends who are there and stop worrying about those who always go absent. Be alone too. And learn to like it. Breathe. There is no such thing as a quick fix. Not unless you want the huge crash afterwards. It won’t last. Angela Duckworth’s noteworthy book and philosophy GRIT lays out what really fosters success. And it’s not the most intelligent. “Grit is the perseverance and passion to achieve long–term goals” and “is a strong predictor of success and ability to reach one's goals.” In fact, “When comparing two people who are the same age but have different levels of education, grit (and not intelligence) more accurately predicts which one will be better educated” (https://jamesclear.com/grit). Grit isn’t talent. Grit isn’t luck. Grit isn’t how intensely, for the moment, you want something.
I recommend the book if you’re finding yourself in a constant downward spiral of chasing the quick fix. We are becoming, no HAVE BECOME, a nation of laziness. That is what’s killing our spirit. And I refuse to live that way.
23 Comments
Michael
9/10/2020 15:14:45
Still waiting for a book of these blogs. It is true that we have been living in a fast paced world for way too long. Covid has canged that for some of us. I wonder if we'll go back to it though when this all passes. That worries me. Still not tried yoga but it's on my list. Kripalu was it? A very good post RB!
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RB
9/12/2020 15:26:27
You might be the only one! LOL. But I AM still thinking about it. :) Thank you for reading! And moreover, responding.
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Venetia
9/12/2020 00:55:26
As a fellow teacher, I agree with you wholeheartedly on the work ethic aspect of your post. Nothing in life comes easy and if it does, it certainly doesn't make one intrinsically motivated. If one is not routinely intrinsically motivated, he will not be a successful person in general because he will not strive to push himself to meet goals. It is also important to "stop and smell the roses" and take what I like to call "mental health breaks" once in a while, too -- something which I try to encourage my mother to do all the time while she's in the middle of all of her projects!!!
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RB
9/12/2020 15:27:05
Yes. Mental health breaks are VERY important!!
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Venetia
9/21/2020 03:39:07
Well, right now I'm between jobs; I was RIF'd twice in a row because I was a Title I Reading Specialist so I was Federally-funded and the first to get cut both times. So I have my Masters in Reading and am certified K-12 in that and K-8 in Education. Have been trying to get back into the regular classroom so I'm paid by the district but in this economy, noone is letting go, unfortunately. Plus in my area, it's saturated with teachers unless you're secondary or special ed.
Krista Barton
9/12/2020 01:34:29
I agree. What happened to enjoy the little things in life? The tortoise wins the race? I feel we need to bring back nursery rhymes and those tales with meaning so we can Teach our children to do better than we are now, Life gets so hectic and we get so caught up in what needs to be done! What about what should be done?
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RB
9/12/2020 15:28:00
I think technology is forcing things only to go faster...we MUST shut down occasionally! Agree whole-heartedly. Thank you for responding.
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Barbi
9/12/2020 01:50:00
We live in a world full of instant gratification. If it’s not now then we don’t want it. Everyone wants bigger, better, faster than the next person. Folks forget no one is going to post their struggles and the ugly parts of life on social media. I can only hope that by the time my toddler is an adult his generation has realized what true happiness is and that it cannot be obtained by “keeping up with The Jones”.
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RB
9/12/2020 15:29:18
You sound like a great parent! Keep that up!
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Mal
9/12/2020 03:02:05
Have to agree with sentiments above. We need critical thinking to help us discern the facts from the dross that we are served constantly. Not sure about grit vs intelligence, I’d argue you need both. Knowledge to know, and determination to do/implement.
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R.B.
9/18/2020 18:43:06
Thanks, Mal!
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Robin
9/12/2020 03:15:39
I agree completely! We’re all guilty of this one way or another. I know my life as I knew it, fast paced and all, cane crashing after an accident. Things have REALLY slowed down and I’ve learned to appreciate things like I use too. It’s all about NOW and that’s not what it should be. I had to work hard for what I had/have and I believe that’s something we all need to get back to. Appreciate the ‘little’ things in life - it always makes the rewards better!
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R.B.
9/18/2020 18:44:15
Yes. Coviid has forced to look at things differently. And that has had its rewards.
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Don Bordua
9/12/2020 08:07:24
I've lost my grit. When I had my stroke I altered my diet, cut down on smoking and exercised more (going for energetic walks) and went fishing. That was over a year ago. I'm eating less healthy, smoking again and not exercising. My personal life has much to do with it. I'm stressed, easy to anger and I'm struggling with my marriage. My writing has taken a downfall. However, this morning I had a little epiphany and decided to start my latest project over with a new angle. I know I need to find my 'grit' again. It's the ugly truth but anything worth having is worth working/fighting for. Thanks everyone for the input.
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R.B.
9/18/2020 18:47:21
Don,
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April D Wolfgong
9/12/2020 08:12:27
My youngest two children are 16 and 18 and I have been trying to teach them this stuff. Anything in this life worth having, is worth working for. A person appreciates something they have worked for more then something they didn't have to work for. They appreciate and understand the true value of it better. Thank you for sharing this.
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R.B.
9/18/2020 18:50:06
100% agree! You're a good mom! Keep that up!
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Linda Tenda
9/12/2020 08:31:32
OMG, I'd love Play Only for Me in Paperback! Thnak you!
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R.B.
9/18/2020 18:50:43
The proof has finally been mailed! I'm excited! I didn't like the last cover, so I'm hoping this one looks better. :)
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Meredith
9/12/2020 16:59:50
I agree. Thats why I enjoy the little things in life!
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R.B.
9/18/2020 18:51:07
Me too! More and more!
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Marlene Hustvet
9/14/2020 16:29:42
Wonderful comments. Everyone needs to enjoy their day. Appreciate living. Appreciate a breath. Appreciate the company you choose to keep. Be alive in today!
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R.B.
9/18/2020 18:51:34
Great motivational words. Thanks for the comment!
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I LOVE to write and read. I particularly enjoy reading erotic romance that has tons of emotion in it. I hope you will ask me questions and share your favorite authors and novels. I welcome all feedback.
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