Inspiration – Perseverance

 Inspiration –  Perseverance

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting (Pty) Ltd – December 2010

H Jackson Brown says “In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not through strength, but by perseverance.”

Ain’t that the truth!

On a personal level, I find that when I am going through a particularly rough patch or trying time, the only way to get through it is to ‘Grit’ my teeth, square my shoulders and put one foot in front of the other and just keep going – sooner or later you have to come out the other end.

I remember my favourite teacher at junior school – her name was Olga Barrett, and she was the strictest disciplinarian in the school – stricter than even the headmaster.  Mrs Barrett saw something in me that I don’t think anyone else saw.  She saw my ‘heart’ and understood that I was different to the other kids.  She saw that although I was by no means gifted or genius, but that my mind needed to be stimulated differently.

She saw that I was determined to succeed, but that I went about things differently and instead of trying to force me into a mould as the other teachers seemed hell-bent on doing, she took my tenacity and taught me how to harness that energy, that spirit, that heart . . . and then use it to my own advantage.

Olga Barrett encouraged me to reach for the stars and not give in to the challenges that would come my way.  Instead of forcing me to look at the world through her eyes, she tried to see it through mine.

Her patience and perseverance in helping me to achieve and be all that I can be certainly went far beyond the call of duty and I will be forever grateful to her.

That tenacity and perseverance have certainly allowed me to meet the challenges and heartache that I have endured in this lifetime and I have no doubt that it will continue to serve me to the end of my days.

So remember, if your life is challenging or if there is something that you really want because you have dared to dream – square your shoulders, grit your teeth and put one foot in the front of the other and just keep going.

You will eventually get there.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za