To Strive

Sucess can’t be granted, it must be earned.

It’s hell to get old. But when you consider the alternative...

That’s an old joke, going back at least to Ben Franklin.  Anyway, so far, I have been spectacularly successful at getting older, and remain inexperienced at the alternative. Of course, getting older is no accomplishment, it just happens. 

I had that thought, as I contemplated my decision to discuss the verb ‘to strive’.  Back in the old days, we heard that verb a lot.  Now, very little.  We were told that success came from individual effort, and that there was no limit to the level of success, if you worked hard enough.  Is that entirely true?  Nope. But it is essentially true.

Today it seems that the mantra runs more along the lines of, you can’t make it on your own, the cards are stacked against you, and that’s why you should count on ________ (Fill in the blank with the appropriate political party or ‘non-profit’ that wants your money and your allegiance.)

What hope is there, if you don’t put someone else in charge of your future?  It is hopeless, unless we support them in saving the planet, ending racism, DEI, ESG, or some other acronym. Believe it or not, the planet is cleaner today than it was fifty years ago. Maybe the world isn’t really hanging by a thread, and only YOU can save it.

Sure, it feels good, saving the planet and all. It feels good to be part of an essential movement that will save us from__________ (capitalism, socialism, racism, sexism, this party, or that party). But what do YOU want?  Who are YOU? If it were up to you (it is) what would you strive for?  Are you striving for it?  Perhaps you are.  I hope you are. Or, perhaps you are following a path that has been laid out for you, one which you have been assured that you MUST follow, for everyone’s sake.  I’m just one guy, but if it helps, I’m fine with you living your life without worrying about me. I’m doing fine.  So are a lot of people.

We live in a tricky world.  Once upon a time, your career choices pretty much consisted of farming. Now, there are more choices than we can count.  And the choices keep changing. What to do?  Well, what do you WANT to do?  And can you make money from it?  There’s only one way to find out.

To strive.  A verb.  It means to endeavor toward success.  It does not mean to follow along.  It does not mean to do as you’re told. It means to set your own goals and then try to meet them.  Just remember, striving is tough.  Going along is easy.  Maybe that’s why so many people go along. Self-respect, real self-respect, comes at a price. 

What if you fail?  Well,OK, what if you fail?  You just keep working at it, that’s what. You’ve never really failed until you give up.  Another way to never fail is to never try.

I was faced with those choices, many years ago. I decided to try, and I’ve never stopped. I have failed.  More than once.  But I have never given up. I’ve been willing to make my own way and take my own chances. I’ve had far more go right than wrong, and I don’t have to look back and wonder ‘what if’.  I’ve DONE the what ifs.

To Strive. (verb) What does ‘to strive’ mean to you?  I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

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