A good friend made this remark in a conversation about a rather insignificant but trying situation saying that she was surprised I had lasted so long. Not only had I lasted long I did not intend to quit. That made me think. Looking back at my life I have to say that "lasting" or "staying power" is one of the things that have defined its trajectory. And funnily, I owe the best things and the worst things in my life to the same staying power. I think the best are mostly professionally related and worst are relationships related. Professionally this staying power or single-minded determination or perseverance or standing against the odds has borne immense fruit ultimately. If nothing else it led to personal growth and learning that I could deploy eventually. It also sort of made me more oriented to staying strong while the winds blow hard because I knew it would pass... and I learnt that the first rule of winning is showing up or put in my way, staying or sticking around. Unfortunately when it comes to people and relationships I feel this logic doesn't work because they are not necessarily build around the same principles of integrity and long-term view that I operate with... It seems to me that in this domain it's perhaps best to cut your losses sooner than later though it's not my natural way so I am at a grave disadvantage.

I had an interesting thought putting the staying power and the winning focus ideas together...seeing as 2021 is a year where I do hope to make some important wins if I stay the hard course. I have no idea why but this thought actually occurred to me in something of a dream or half-sleep state. It’s to do with the fairy-tale of Cinderella (I might not have the details of this story right but they are irrelevant to my point). Cinderella’s win in the end is attached to the missing slipper. However, the slipper is not one that will fit anyone else but her no matter how many try it on and try to sabotage her place. It is something that is no use for anyone else because it can only fit her and her alone. So Cinderella doesn't really need to fear because the slipper awaits her and is meant for her...and is only contingent on her finding a path to it. There is no competition but only a test… a test that demands her to fulfil her destiny. It might take all her strength and staying power to reach it and there might be people who are deluded enough to try to snatch the slipper on the way… but they cannot really take what is rightfully hers. It can only fit her.

Enough of stories for now ;) Let me wish my dear, wonderful, kind, "staying" readers a very Happy New Year… with this apt line from Cinderella, “Be kind, have courage and always believe in a little magic.”