Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Obstinately Persistent


I am verrry happy with this leaf and ant!! 'Came out better than I expected.


MAr-le-Vus! The little boy said squatting down beside two large red ants that were carrying a large fallen leaf
to - don’t know where
to - don’t know why
‘Don’t sit there Rahul. Come ….. see the red ants will bite you’
Ra-a-ahul
Come
Rahul and his grandfather liked going for walks. They were at perfect crossroad-ages. Rahul was all chatter and grandpa was happy to be all ears; and when grandpa talked Rahul was happy to be all ears.
‘The ants are so small. They cannot take the leaf. Will they thatha?’
Grandpa peered at the two ants tugging at the fallen leaf.
‘With persistence they can’
‘Persi-ten?? What is persi-ten thatha?’ (thatha is a kannada term for grandpa)
‘Per-sis-tens …. Persistence! That means doing a thing again and again till you do it well…. Till you get it right’
‘O’ Rahul nodded wisely. ‘When Puja picks idli on her spoon and tries to eat. She does it again and again. That is per-si-ten?’
‘Haha! Yes Rahul. That is persistence’, said grandpa imagining fondly his 2 year old grandchild’s attempts at breakfast.
How is persistence different from being obstinate? When we agree with what is being done that’s persistence, determination, willpower? That’s admirable. That’s lofty.
When what’s being done goes against our grain, when we cannot agree, when we cannot find logic then that’s being stubborn, obstinate and pig-headed.
Did that get a tad simplistic?
But that’s how we see the world don’t we? Always from our point of view … Naturally … ‘cause, we know best.
But wait, the best definition of persistence is in PING, by Stuart Avery Gold. The wise owl says, Persistence is the difference between a strong will and a strong won’t.
Neat. Don’t you agree?
So, Persistence is all about being positive, all about wanting to actually DO something.
And being negative, Not wanting to do something, When the focus is on NO, That’s being obstinate.
Aaah! Tiiiinnnng! Eega gottaittu.
Did I get that right?

3 comments:

  1. is some part of this story really about rahul and puja?? the names cant be a co-incidence!!
    interesting perspective on persistance !!

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  2. I absolutely admire your Persistance ma!!! keep it going.

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  3. I learnt a lot from PING . Persistence couled with perserverance pursued positively would land us in a beautiful garden !!!

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