You need to be able to endure
People are getting worse at holding out. It's vital that you and I can do it.
“Man up”, “don’t give in” and “roll up your sleeves” are words I heard quite often as a child. I grew up marinated in the idea that you don't lie around and don't put things off until tomorrow, if you can do them right away.
It probably stemmed from the fact that my parents had memories of a harder life. The family from Roslagen (the northern part of the Stockholm archipelago) in particular knew a thing or two about being forced to toughen up and work hard. Survival depended on it.
If you let “not giving up” be your life philosophy, then the results will come in the end. If you are lucky, the stars are right and the gods will it, it will be even better than just good. But those who work their asses off and don't give up will go much further than those who don't.
In private, it's true. Are you fond of someone? Don't give it up. Don't give up on her (or him). Keep your eyes on the prize if you think he or she is worth fighting for. Fight, take control of the process and roll up your sleeves.
Education? Entrepreneurship? Get up early. Work hard. Work an hour more than your competitor. The likelihood of achieving your goal increases a hundredfold.
If you encounter setbacks, you have to keep going. Is it tough? Take a breath, think about your strategies and what you might do differently. If you need to, there's nothing wrong with retreating and regrouping to choose a new way forward.
The same goes for the big issues, when it comes to society and our Folkish aspirations. We must persevere today and tomorrow and in 50 years' time. We must continue our efforts regardless of the current situation or whether we are facing headwinds or tailwinds at the time. We must dare to invest in this endeavor, we must unite behind those who speak for us.
Each of us must do everything we can and preferably a little extra. Friedrich Nietzsche put it this way:
“It is not the strength, but the duration, of great sentiments that makes great men.”
The woman you love, the people you defend, the life you aspire – they deserve the duration of our sentiments! If you aspire to be a great man that is.
Excellent piece.