The Wisdom of Youth

So, this past Tuesday Ed and I were about to go for a walk outside with Mojo. It was around 7:30PM and we walked outside ready for our daily family walk.

As we walked down the street heading toward the path where we normally go, a father and son (probably age 7-8) were walking down the opposite side of the road when I heard the young boy say “Dad… the one thing I do know in life is not to give up.”

I can’t remember if it was just quiet outside or the boy was talking loudly, but the boy’s words were loud and clear. And when I heard the boy say that, I immediately looked at Ed and he quickly looked at me.

Neither one of us said anything but we just looked at each other and then continued on with our walk. It’s like we were both thinking the same thing yet words weren’t needed.

The boy’s words were just so powerful.

Now, I know “not giving up” is something most of us learn at an early age, but as adults, a lot of us have a difficult time remembering this, especially when life gets hard.

So, my lesson to you is this: whatever you’re working on or working toward, don’t give up. Even when you feel lost, stuck, confused, not sure what to do next, overwhelmed, or frustrated, just continue moving forward. Even the tiniest steps in the right direction will make the biggest difference over time.

If I could go back to Tuesday, I would walk up to the young boy and thank him for speaking such inspirational words. At the same time, I would thank his father for setting such a positive example for his son by teaching him such an important lesson in life.

So that’s my thoughts from this week. Never give up. You can do anything you want to do in life.