Despair and Diligence

“Never despair; but if you do, work on in despair.”

–     Edmund Burke (1729-1797), British statesman and philosopher

Sometimes it’s just a lot harder than it’s “supposed to be.”

Maybe it’s parenting.  Maybe it’s the job.  Maybe it’s a partnership or relationship.  Maybe it’s learning something that seems so easy to those around you in class.  Heck, it could be anything.

In the last week, two families I know have suffered great losses, one difficult to imagine, one impossible.

The despair that naturally comes from great losses like these is easy to spot.

It’s the quiet, insidious despair of the day-to-day that can be equally debilitating, even if it is less obvious.

And, no one is immune.

Not sure there’s one answer that fits every scenario, but there is one ingredient that does.

Diligence.

Walk on.  Soldier on.  March on.  Move on.

Always forward.

Despair tries to pull us backward.  If we don’t give in, and constantly move on — we’ll end up somewhere better.