I was watching a high school badminton tournament on the weekend.
I noticed there was a certain point in some games where the point spread was too far, and the team on the bottom would start to give up.
Being a part of the spectators, we also had a predetermined set point of when we felt hope was lost for the team on the bottom… but it came after the players.
The kids that didn’t give up and played their heart out to the very end, no matter the score were the exception.
It made me wonder how often I’ve given up on something that I wouldn’t have if I could have been a spectator for a few minutes. How many good ideas I’ve never given credence to, how many negotiations I could have done better on, how many relationships could have been saved.
I was a “good girl” growing up. No meant no to me. As soon as I got a no I would stop dead and not push any further.
Now, at 40 years old, my dad is teaching me to never take no for an answer, and to never stop trying to go a little further.
The world is such a funny place.