Fellow human! Thank you for your patience in anticipation for this Friday Feels post. Life has kicked up a notch, and I’m back at work, loading its own share of responsibilities. I feel moving from a weekly post to every 2 weeks would align best with everything that’s going on. Also, it should give me more time to develop the ideas, and directions it could go.

That being said, it’s amazing what can evolve over 2 weeks; this post was initially meant to reflect on endurance. Endurance came to me shortly after writing about Saudade, it seemed logical – having a longing for people, places, and things usually comes with endurance – I thought.

Endurance for me has always had a negative connotation. It has meant staying in places you are not wanted because your pride wouldn’t let you leave. This applies to both friendships and romantic relationships. Thinking about those moments makes me wish that I didn’t have that so-called Endurance.
But I grew up, and endurance to me means holding on to what you love, and what you know is good for you, regardless of how hard it gets. I’m speaking specifically here of having been thrust into the role of a single mom. The role of a badass career woman. The role of being the rock to everyone who is falling apart. Although, it has taught me to be OK with not having anyone be my rock, it has taught me who I am. It has made my boundaries very clear. And it has helped shape my understanding of what I can, what I should, and what I shouldn’t do.
It’s new years resolutions now and I hope I’ll take my endurance into losing weight and being happy. Becoming who I am.

Litlhare, South Africa

As I moved on to the next step of my process, endurance didn’t quite sit right with me, and I couldn’t figure out why. It wasn’t until I came to my own conclusion that endurance is a painful force you experience and do whatever you can to get through it; you endure math class, you endure the sound of someone chewing, or you endure life. Resounding ‘amen’ amongst the millennials for that last one?

In contrast, perseverance is an intrinsic force that drives you to growth toward a goal you have set for yourself come hell or high water! You persevere toward becoming an actuarial scientist; you know that after the date you’re on, you have Netflix and your dog waiting for you at home; or you persevere toward being the best human you can be. Millennials, I want to hear y’all, still!

‘Perseverance is the hard work you do after after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.’ – Newt Gingrich. It is the steady beat in your heart that ignites your soul to get up. When your knees shake, mind weakens, and your body gives in. The light at the end of the tunnel you have been crawling in for so long. But not just the light, the air that you can taste with your eyes as you grab your price with your soul. It is the rhythm in your heart when you feel lost and tired.

Effort and determination – effort and determination.

For success is not an accident, but your hard earned perseverance.

Tshepiso, Botswana

Jedidiah Jenkins. In ‘To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret’ by Jedidiah, he details his journey with his friend Weston as they cycle from Oregon to Patagonia. At least I think he makes it all the way; I just started reading the book, BUT I find his pragmatism, lack of preparation for the trip, and equal yearning to fulfil the calling very interesting. I’m looking forward to journeying along with them.

In the 1970s his parents traversed the USA and were even featured in National Geographic, and spent a number of years thereafter highlighted for their literary work, and Christian fellowship. The seed was planted.

At 27 years of age, Jedidiah planned that the trip would begin from the same beach his parents ended theirs; he would at 30 years of age.

On the trip so far, Jedidiah is exposed to conditions that bring him to contemplate his ability to continue, but mentions a wave of optimism that immediately kicks in once the clouds in his head begin brooding. He spent 16 months on the road. I cannot begin to imagine the kind of willpower taking such a trip commands.

On taking long trips using unfamiliar modes of transport, along unknown routes: my move from Savannah to Columbus which saw me pack all my belongings in the back of a U-Haul truck and head north to a state I didn’t know existed prior to beginning the enrolment process at Columbus College of Art and Design; the Midwest was unknown to me, mkay? I can’t remember how many times I asked myself, what the [expletive] are you doing! Through all of that, however I trekked on.

As an aside if I may, speaking of endurance vs. perseverance: I endured the country music it seemed was the only thing the radio could catch in the mountains of West Virginia, and begged myself not to launch myself off the winding highway and into the valley beside it. Why? Well, how would you feel to know you’re no more because country music took you over in a bad way? That, and my curiosity and excitement had kicked in 2 hours prior to find out what was in Columbus for me. I persevered.

Faith looks like different things to different people, and our journeys are based off of it whether we’d like to acknowledge it or not. I’m not talking about the faith people speak of at their pulpits, but our inherent desire to need the choices that we make be the right ones at that moment in time. It goes hand-in-hand with Hope, I believe.

One’s journey is essentially taking your best step forward before using a blind stick to ensure no obstacles immediately ahead, before another gracious step, and with an idea of the direction you want to go. It makes sense. Trust.

A huge thank you to those who submitted their perspectives toward this post, y’all give me the warm fuzzies, and I appreciate you.