Tenacity’s All You Actually Need
It’s Only When You Stop You Really Lose
Well, we’re moving on up, To the East Side, To a deluxe apartment in the sky. We’re moving on up, To the East Side, We finally got a piece, Of the pie.
I’d love to say I grew up with the Jefferson’s. Well, from one perspective, maybe I did. I was a young man/child of twenty-two years in 1975 when the sitcom first aired.
It was funny, I laughed and forgot about my troubles for at least the next thirty minutes. As I was mulling this piece over in my brain this afternoon, I thought about George Jefferson and all the hard work he did, along with his family, to rise above all the tribulations to make it to “that deluxe apartment in the sky”.
The one word I often use to describe the character of George Jefferson, played by the inestimable Sherman Hemsley, was tenacious. George Jefferson had the tenacity of a bulldog and a spunky, indomitable spirit.
From time to time, I look back on my writing career and wonder how I’ve managed to get this far down the road. How is it after all these years, I’m still sitting in front of a computer hammering out articles and stories?
It’s okay to look at the road you’ve traveled once in a while folks. I once wrote it was okay to look behind you to know if you’re heading in the direction you really want to go.
And what I often discover is I’d had a few successes, but none worth beating my chest with pride in King Kong fashion. I’d made a little bit of change, but not enough to make a house payment or buy a month’s worth of toilet paper.
Followers I’d gained along the way, only days ago breaking 1K after two consecutive years of writing daily. About the following thing, I have to get this out, then I’ll never mention it again.
How can a writer have over a thousand followers and only get about seventy to one hundred reads a day? How is that even possible? Come on, you follow on followers, stop yanking my chain and try reading some of my sh*t for a change.
Okay, I’m done.
Like I said I’ve been a George Jefferson for a while now, continually scrapping for a seat at the table. And when I compare myself to George (not Sherman, but then again, maybe even Sherman), I realize I have one trait in common with the actor and most certainly the character.
Tenacity.
I’m tenacious although of late the editors seem to have forgotten I exist and ignore me… stop ignoring me you putzes. I’m tenacious when my read count is down, tenacious when the money’s scarce, and I struggle with the words.
I’m all about possessing tenacity because I know above all else the only things which can bring me to a halt, the only things that can make me lose it all is when I stop.
Well, or maybe if I blow a valve and my motor seizes up, or this d*mn bug out there finds a way into my lungs.
But if those two things don’t stop me, I guaran-d*amn-tee you I’ve absolutely no compunction about stopping what I’m doing. I’m going to be like that tenacious, pesky little fly at a springtime picnic. The one no one can get even with the most potent bug zapper or fly swatter.
Like Steve Rogers, our favorite Captain America character says, “I can do this all day.”
I can, you can, we all can.
You can be ignored. You can be told you stink by others who wish to hold you down because they’re just now recognizing how good you really are, and they’re really afraid you’re going to achieve something before they do.
You can let them finally win and convince you you’re not smart enough, you don’t have what it takes, aren’t tenacious enough to make it, and all you have to do is just stop.
Just put the pen down and walk away. How much freaking easier could it be?
Nope, not going to do it. I may be a hack writer to some, a good writer to others, and a great writer to my wife, who thinks I’m fantastic, but I’m just too tenacious to stop.
If anything, I’m a fighter, and I simply hate to lose. Although with this career, I’ve been taught how to lose pretty d*mn well. So what, learning how to lose is teaching me how to win.
Yes, I really believe that folks.
All it really takes is a sticktoitiveness, a passionate drive to continue despite all. You wanna be a George Jefferson? Then remember this. It’s only when you stop you really lose. Just like George, you need to have the tenacity to keep on moving up to that deluxe apartment in the sky.
Peace Out My Writing Brothers and Sisters,
P.G.
Thanks So Much For Reading
Let’s keep in touch: [email protected]
© P.G. Barnett, 2020. All Rights Reserved.