This morning I went for what was supposed to be an easy run. It turned out to be the opposite from that. It was a long and dreadful five and a half miles considering I had wanted to do six. My pace was awful, my legs were dead, and I wanted to just walk home half way through. Then I thought to myself, wow I am such a whimp. Why do I give up so easily? It makes me so mad when I give up but when I am in the moment I want to so badly. I become so negative and find myself saying that I cannot do it. But, truthfully I can. I just have to get through it.

Giving up is easy. One day you can just drop everything and give up. No more hassle, no more pain. You’re free from those responsibilities you once held so tightly. A quick breath of fresh air and then it is back to reality. Why did you give up? What could have happened if you kept pushing through? Are you not strong enough to keep holding on? So many questions for something that would have been so simple to hold on to. Just a half a mile more.

This mentality applies to so many different areas of life. Everyone seems to be so busy in the world we are a part of. School, work, sports, friends, family, activities, etc. They all seem to have a role in our lives and something that we want to be a part of. Why is it so difficult to do everything at once? Why can’t we just find time to do it all? I don’t know. I only know that if you have something that you hold dear to your heart you have a dream. It may have been a small dream but it was something that you wanted. Something that you thought about and imagined yourself being successful in.

Life is hard and discouraging at some points and giving up seems like a wonderful solution. Life can bring you down and drag you on the floor. But that does not have to be what your whole life entails for you. When life gets you down remember when it brought you up. Remember that hard work will soon bring you to an exciting place. Giving up can seem like a great option at the time but when it is gone someday you’ll think of why you gave up in the first place.

Writing these articles has been a challenge. I often don’t know what to write about and struggle each time I sit down to write them. I run out of time most weeks and end up writing them on the spot. With school starting up last week I thought that I was done. I wasn’t able find time to write them anymore. With work, school, cross country, and doing class work outside of school I struggled to fight through the thoughts of giving up. It’s hard and something I can easily give up. But I’ve held a dream with these articles. I want to inspire other people and help them find the happiness they deserve. I was going to give up on that precious dream but I didn’t. I’m holding on, hoping to make the best of things.

I encourage others to never give up. Don’t give up on a dream and never give up on yourself. You are capable of so many great things and they all are possible. Life is going to be rough and difficult; you have to accept it. Push through and find the courage to live your dreams. Don’t give up and walk. Finish the other half mile and find the strength to fight for what you want. You have to grab a hold of your dreams before they disappear.