per·se·ver·ance /ˌpərsəˈvirəns/

noun

  • 1. persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success: “his perseverance with the technique illustrates his single-mindedness”

I always thought of “perseverance” the word as a verb. As in “I persevered.”

As a noun, the word becomes a trait, a quality, an — advantage.

All of us get discouraged when we don’t seem to be “winning” or “succeeding” at our goals and dreams. For me, it success would be getting more acceptance notices about manuscripts and more positive reviews and criticism.

I’ve learned to take each little “failure” and turn it around. It isn’t failure. Every time we receive and accept criticism or accept a loss and continue in spite of it–we are persevering (there the word is as a gerund!).

I have to (well, I don’t have to, but I’m thinking of it today) again mention my foray into bird watching. The Boulder Fairgrounds Osprey cam this year was “blessed” thanks to a very loving Osprey pair with four eggs–none of which seemingly will hatch. This couple has had nest losses in the past and yet come back each year to build again and have some successes.

Sure–they’re birds and have bird-brains, but we (I) can learn something from them about perseverance.