"Keep going! Don't give up!"
"Don't be a quitter."
Throughout our lives, our family and friends constantly encourage us to work hard and not to quit. Most of the time, this is wise advice. Persevering through difficult times has helped me grow. As a little girl, I was afraid to swim to the deep end of the pool, but after years of swimming I received an award for my perseverance and growth on the swim team. When I first learned how to drive, I was terrified, especially on the highway, but one day I drove on the interstate, by myself, to a foreign part of town without a GPS. Every ounce of confidence I’ve gained came from doing things I thought I couldn't do.I used to be proud of my hard work. So proud that I decided I would never be a "quitter." But one day, I realized that sometimes it's okay to quit. Friendships I had tried to develop were refusing to work out as I had envisioned. Confused, I told myself that I was the problem. I wasn't being friendly or kind or attentive enough. But I eventually realized that the people I wanted so desperately to be my friends weren't interested. I was initiating and showing my interest, but as the old saying goes, "it takes two to tango." A healthy relationship involves give-and-take, where everyone gives and everyone receives. I realized that if I tried to force nonexistent friendships, I would feel resentful and even more lonely than I already felt. So I quit. I never agreed to stop loving them and treating them with kindness, but I stopped trying to create friendships where there was no sense of chemistry.
It's also okay to quit when your body breaks down. Sometimes people give up old hobbies or sports permanently because their bodies are unable to cooperate. Usually, this is a sad decision, but the good thing is that the old hobby can be replaced with a new one and quitting can actually provide new opportunities. If your body screams "no," you need to listen to it and take care of yourself.
My brother understands this lesson well. He is a dedicated basketball player who practices almost every day. Sometimes, however, he's been injured and had to take a break so his body could heal. If he had decided to keep pushing himself, his injuries would probably have worsened.
Of course, there is a fine line between quitting for the right reasons and giving up because something seems too hard, but quitting can be very good for you! When you quit for the right reasons, you can accept your limitations and focus on other areas of life that make you happy.
