Never Give Up

I love Christmas songs and around Christmastime I always get the urge to play my clarinet.  It’s been a long time since I last played, so earlier this month I decided it was time to dust off the clarinet.

Well, I was in for rude awakening…I couldn’t even get the first note out!  It was just air.

OK, change the reed and see what happens…still just air.

A minute later, I was finally able to play… while forgetting a few notes.  That was a lot more difficult than I remember!  But I was rewarded with tired cheeks and the sound of music.

While I was playing, I thought how easy it would be to put away the clarinet.  I had plenty of other things to do anyway.  But I wanted to hear that music again.  There’s something about playing a song that’s so gratifying.

I’ve known plenty of people who’ve given up when something got a little difficult.  I’m sure we’ve all done it to some degree, but why give up when there’s the opportunity for such great reward?

With the New Year almost here, I’m sure many of you are thinking of New Year’s resolutions and season goals.  Whether you’re aiming for a PR in Kona or just trying to run continuously for 30 minutes, it may not be easy starting out, but don’t give up!  Every step you take toward that goal is a step closer to that gratifying feeling of accomplishment.

So how can you help yourself set goals and reach them?

-Set some short term goals along the way.

-Make sure your goals are measurable, not vague.

-Set challenging, but realistic goals.

-And Never Give Up!

Now, if December 21st turns out to be the end of the world and puts a crimp in your plans, take a minute to regroup.  You may find my cousin’s blog A Croat’s Guide to the End of the World useful.