Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Just Don't Quit

 Sometimes - and far more often than we'd like - life throws us curveballs. 

Some are great.

Some are not.

Some are a mixed blessing.

I recently had a new curveball thrown at me - just as I was settling in to being a full-time writer, I got called out of retirement when a teacher quit mid-year and they needed an experienced teacher to step in and pull things back together.

There are many benefits to this for me (not least the salary), but it's thrown quite a crimp into my writing schedule - especially as I hustle to get back in the game and get caught up.

Writing hasn't been happening. I'm really not good at multi-tasking when my brain is spinning (some family health issues play into this too).

What to do?

Yesterday, as I was writing a note of motivation to my daughter, I vaguely remembered a line from a poem, so I looked it up. As soon as I saw the full poem, I remembered learning it as a child. I recalled reading it with my own students. I could only think it showed up in my memory just at the moment I most needed the reminder.


So I wanted to share it with you today - for anyone who needs a lift or a reminder.


Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

~John Greenleaf Whittier



What do you do when you want to quit? How do you keep yourself going?




Image from Pixabay

23 comments:

  1. Hi Cate, I write nonfiction and there is much going on right now in my life. I have to be careful to balance everything and not get overwhelmed. I try to keep to a schedule and some days, actually succeed. But when I get overwhelmed, it is easy to think, "maybe I should just give up." At that point, I stop, rest, and pray. Thanks for your encouraging post!

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    1. Oh, Edwina. I totally can identify with this part - "and some days I actually succeed." I'm glad you found the post encouraging. I agree that remembering to pray about it is so important.

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  2. Oh, Cate, I know. I haven't touched my fiction WIP since October. One of the reasons is that I've been working on another nonfiction local history book but that's no excuse. Or won't be much longer: my deadline is in February. I don't work full-time like you do, but there are so many things to derail us. I had COVID in December and I've usually been able to work through physical illnesses, since my work is mental, but I couldn't this time.
    I guess we just have to keep at it until we hear otherwise. Persistence got us here, and persistence will keep us here. Until He tells us to stop or calls us home.
    Kathy Bailey
    Your Kaybee
    Trying to get going again in New Hampshire

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    1. Kathy, I'm so sorry this has been such a difficult time for you. I wish you well trying to get your energy back. These New England winters make it a nice time to rest and build up strength! My sister had the same covid brain reaction. Good luck with that deadline!

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  3. I'll admit that I'm by nature kind of a quitter. When things get hard, I do give up. This is a great poem and a great reminder that we never know what might be right around the corner!

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    1. Glynis, can't tell you how many times I "quit" writing. And for what.

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    2. Writing is the thing I most easily give up on. I think it's because it's the one thing I think of as for me. I'm less likely to quit if I feel like it impacts someone else.Keep at it, Glynis!

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    3. So good to know I'm not the only one that "quits" only to start up again!

      Cate, I think you're right about the "me" aspect of it. I'm unpublished, so writing doesn't earn me anything, so I've always considered it a hobby. And when I'm writing it's really just for me, so in the times where I'm too busy with other things, that's the one that gets put aside, because I feel like it's selfish to carve out time just for me. Whether that's the right attitude or not, that's how it's been. Now that we're empty-nesters for the most part, I have a lot more time for me, so maybe this will be my more fruitful season. Thanks for the encouragement, as always, everyone!

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  4. I love this poem, Mary Cate. And yes, the timing of you recalling it was no coincidence. When I feel like giving up, I usually turn to God. You know, as in I've tried to do things in my own strength and have finally come to the end of myself. He never fails me, though He might not always give me the answer I long to hear. Sometimes He wants me to quit, because He never wanted me to do that thing I'm crying out to Him about in the first place. But He has proven Himself faithful and worthy of my trust, if I will only listen. He is with me. He will sustain me. He will carry me, if need be. And I am so thankful.

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    1. Mindy, this is SO deep. Good advice.

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    2. Mindy, as usual, you have the perfect words. Thank you for sharing them.

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  5. Hi Cate! I've had this poem tacked to a bulletin board above my desk for so long I nearly forgot it was there. Perfect for the trying times we are all in. Recently a friend shared a post from Instagram with me that I need to add to my bulletin board - When you get tired rest, don't quit. I remind myself of these words when I feel that little niggle to just throw the towel in. Best of luck getting back to writing when you can.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Christina. I love that reminder to rest rather than quit. I think I need to print this poem out too so I don't forget about it again!

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  6. I love this poem. It's chock-full of truth! When I want to quit, I have to step away, take some deep breaths, and then ask for help. Whether that's physical, emotional, or spiritual. I have been blessed with dear friends who encourage with kind words...and more stringent words when necessary (Looking at you, Ruthy-darlin') that give me the courage and the strength to keep on going.

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    1. What really struck me about your response and some of the others, Erica, is the active response. I tend to sort of just drift away rather than confronting the idea. I guess I need to be more self-aware.

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  7. Wow - this is an excellent poem. So many truths...
    When I want to quit I clean something. And then maybe indulge in some chocolate...then I step back and examine what's going on. Is it me? Is it something else? Is this what God really wants me to do? Then I pray and keep going.

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    1. Wow, Lee-Ann, that's such a positive way of looking at the "I want to quit" experience.I guess the important part is you pray and keep going!

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  8. Love the poem, Mary Cate! When we're getting close to achieving success, the struggle seems most difficult. I think of it as a corner. If I can just get around the corner, I can achieve my goal.

    Before publication--when I was getting close--I envisioned a numbers of doors. I kept pushing on them, not knowing which one would open. Eventually LIS opened, and I got THE CALL!

    Last week when I was in prayer and reflecting on the Covid Pandemic and how my writing stalled, especially in 2020, the word DORMANT came to me. I think God was saying I was dormant during that time, as a plant might be in winter.

    Thankfully, I'm out of my dormant season and, once again, producing fruit. :)

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    1. What an interesting perspective, Debby. Do you remember Snuggies? My daughter was just commenting to me today that she'd read something about how if Snuggies had been available during the pandemic, they would have been all the rage. I guess that goes well with dormant.

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    2. Debby, your description of being dormant during the pandemic is so apt. Sitting here nodding my head in agreement!

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  9. This is such a good post. I really need to remember this. Good luck with your return to teaching. Hope the semester goes well.

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    1. Thank you, Sandy. So far I've been really enjoying it. I guess I just always need a summer vacation that lasts 6 months to rejuvenate me. Glad you enjoyed the post.

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  10. I just read Cate's post after I wrote mine for tomorrow. I'm leaving mine as is (with a nod to Cate's post today), and am changing the title from When the Sun Goes Down to The Sun's Coming Up in the Morning!

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