I’ve taken on the challenge of learning the Spanish language. (Today marks four months of continual learning since starting) I will learn the language well enough to communicate with tenants, employees, and in helping others in whatever way possible. But also to exercise my brain, and make use of my time constructively. There are times when I get discouraged in my studies. I think that I’m not grasping it fast enough at times. Tonight I got a bit discouraged when the sentences I put together were not structured properly, as this is where I struggle, I then look for something inspirational that will help me get thru these moments. Tonight I read from ‘The Obstacle is the Way’, this is a book I keep in my locker to bounce to at times. “Practice Persistence ‘ is the chapter I read from.
A quote from Robert Frost;
“He says the best way out is always through and I agree to that,
or as in so far as I can see no way out but through”
The chapter tells of General Ulysses Grant’s persistence upon cracking the defenses at Vicksburg. He would never give up, he would continually chisel away at the obstacle before him. Grant had tried so many ways to lay siege to Vicksburg that he finally tried a new way that became the norm of the North. That new strategy is how the South was defeated.
As with Thomas Edison, in 1878 trying to discover the incandescent light bulb. Edison tried over six thousand filaments before finding the one that worked. Proving that ‘genius’ often really is persistence in disguise. Grant and Edison were no different then ourselves. Their genius was unity of purpose, deafness to doubt, and the desire to stay at it.
This is the way I look at myself learning Spanish, I’m not in a classroom, I have no teacher, and I have no method of what way is the best way to learn it. The important part is that I stay at it, working at it works. It’s that simple ( but again not easy) I have the time, the opportunity, and now I must have the persistence to accomplish this task.
The book gives this mindset;
Never in a hurry
never worried
never desperate
never stopping short
A phrase by Epictetus to remember;
“persist and resist”
Persist in your efforts. Resist giving in to distractions, discouragement, or disorder.
I see everyday in learning Spanish will be a bumpy ride. It’s not going to be easy, only with persistence and time will I learn this. Being able to accomplish this will only prepare me better for the end in mind. I hear of so many men wishing they would learn Spanish, but I see none of them taking action. ( let me say I know of one gentleman who is doing and not wishing). I’m realizing there will be times of discouragement, but it’s not ok for me to quit. To think of quitting is not an option for me, I will plant my feet and keep inching forward. Even if I’m only learning a few new words a day I will accomplish this, and with this I learn persistence.
Edison once explained “in inventing the first step is the tuition–and comes with a burst —then difficulties arise”.
In other words; it’s going to be hard . First attempts may not work, and it will take a lot out of me. But energy is a asset that I can always find more of. When someone asks me how my Spanish is coming along, or any other project that I’m working on, the answer will be clear; I’m working on it, I’m getting closer. When setbacks arise, or discouragements, I’ll respond by working twice as hard at it.
Prison gives me the perfect opportunity to do so many things. To me, being on lockdown gives me the time to study, and to learn persistence.
Yo tango ir aroha y estudiar espanol 🙂
( I have to go now and study Spanish)
