Have you ever observed the huge boulders in the midst of waterfalls, rivers and streams? The force of the water is huge, but the boulders stand firm, day after day, year after year. A few months back as I was basking in the glory of such gigantic boulders, perched precariously (apparently) one on top of the other at a waterfall in Uttarkashi, I couldn’t help but admire their silent strength. The water gushed over and under them but did nothing to topple them over, nay move them an inch. No doubt the water smoothes the rough edges of the stones but moving them was beyond the powers of even the mighty waterfall.
The tenacity of a rock never ceases to amaze me. Microsoft WORD offers the words stubbornness and obstinacy as the first two suggestions for synonyms for the word ‘tenacity’. But they are not the apt synonyms. A search on the internet for the meaning* resulted in ‘perseverance’ and ‘persistence’, meaning ‘holding fast’. That is what I am referring to.
Often we mistake tenacity for stubbornness, but it need not be true. Holding on to one’s ideals, beliefs and values and making choices keeping them in mind, is not obstinacy or stubbornness but being steadfast. Standing up for and holding on fast to what we believe is the core of a vibrant personality. We can stand straight only when we have built a firm foundation of values and ideals. Such a person alone has the tenacity to weather storms, and come out shining. That person alone can give and love and support and create. Without that base, without that inner strength we would go with the flow and get thrown asunder by the external forces like the pebbles and stones that finally get crushed to soil by the sheer force of the water. When faced with choices, let us choose to be like the boulder and hold on tenaciously to our ideals and values and weather the raging tempest within and without and rise from it gloriously. Wish you a glorious year ahead!
*http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tenacity
Did you know?
About a thousand earths can fit inside Jupiter.
Do your bit!
Make a gift using disposable items in your house.
