Endurance

I marvel at people who endure tough challenges – marathon runners, arctic explorers, my Dad in the Battle of the Bulge. I read about life in the Revolutionary War and The Depression just to remind myself that people endured extremely tough times and often gave up everything for someone else. Their efforts wove the fabric of American rugged individualism.  This concept of hard work was ingrained in me at a young age so I believe in its value more than anything else.   Endurance is different from hardship though; in hardship you suffer for no purpose and no endpoint. When I think of people who endure tough times the question I ask myself always is “how?” How did they survive rough conditions and what pushed them ahead? It’s definitely a combination of physical effort and will power that leans heavily on the latter. Physical efforts often come to mind for endurance, but I bet most people deal more with mental hurdles like crummy jobs, abusive relationships, etc.  When you’re enduring “how am I going to make it?” enters your mind, but the answer never comes because you’re too focused on getting through it.

It comes in all shapes and sizes and no one is exempt, so the question for you is not “if” but “how long” will I have to endure?  One of the toughest life challenges is going to church on Sunday when you’re 8 years old.  David whispered to me one Sunday morning, “how long is Mass going to be today?”  I said, “how long did Christ hang on the Cross?”  Nothing like enduring a sarcastic father.  When I was David’s age inconvenience and endurance went hand in hand. “How long are we going shopping?” or “when will it stop snowing?”  Waiting in sub zero weather for a ride home from school seemed like an endurance, but for some reason it didn’t when you were drinking around a campfire on frozen Lake George with a bunch of friends.   These obstacles weren’t endurances; they only lasted a matter of minutes, not a lifetime.  Later in life, however, when I saw patients struggle with chronic diseases like arthritis, COPD, and cancer I understood what endurance really meant. I did notice, however, that people who strived to be happy shouldered their burden a lot better than those who didn’t. Being happy seemed to lighten the load.

Happiness and endurance contradict each other; struggling doesn’t make me want to sing to the mountain tops. So, there has to be a strong reason for “why I am doing this?” especially since quitting is an option at anytime.  I personally endure my own trials because I enjoy living and creating memories with family and friends. That in itself pushes me out of bed in the morning and keeps me up late at night in a good way.  Challenging relationships in jobs and marriages, however, are confusing since people think their toil is forever.  Unfortunately, too often people stay in ruts even when happiness is no where in sight.   Thomas Jefferson made it clear a long time ago that the pursuit of happiness was a basic human right and not a permanent 10k.  We should all be students of that history lesson.  For me, the only running I ever do is run into the kitchen and get Diane coffee in the morning.  In spite of that weakness Devin told me after my last health setback he thought Death was chasing me.  If that’s the case and endurance is tied to happiness, then Death better gulp down his coffee, since I’m already out the door and down the road.  Slainte.