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Quitting Isn’t the Same as Failing
We are taught not to quit, that quitting is for losers
As a young girl, I played softball. I didn’t like softball, but my dad was the coach, so I played. I did make a stand and refuse to wear pants; I played baseball in a dress with the jersey over it. Once the season started, I would beg and plead not to have to go to practice or a game. Every time my parents cautioned me that I needed to finish what I had started.
That lesson stuck with me. It’s the reason I stayed in my first marriage much longer than I should have, it’s the reason I worked as an educator for the past 13 years.
I’ve since learned that while there are times when sticking it out is important. There are also plenty of times when quitting is the right answer.
Perseverance and grit are important life skills
Life indeed takes a certain amount of perseverance and grit to get through the tough parts. I don’t expect everything to be sunshine and roses and you shouldn’t either. Sometimes marriage is hard, and sometimes your job can be a bit bland, or repetitive.
It’s not about quitting things that get tough, it’s about evaluating your priorities, and restructuring your life to make sure that where you’re spending your time matches your value system
