I was outside this morning putting out the trash, when I noticed a carpenter ant trying to climb a concave road culvert. Each time he climbed within an inch of the top, and gravity would overwhelm it and he would tumble back to the bottom. I started cheering for it, and offering my expert advice in this matter. "Why don't you just go around and take an easier route.." Stubbornly, the ant kept trying the same location over and over and each tumbled back into the same place. After watching his 18th attempt (I actually counted) (but he may have had more before I got there), my advice was "Hey stupid, you will never make it...take a different route". Well, I watched 5 more attempts, and laughed each time it tumbled back down. Oh well, you will never learn, and are doomed to fall over and over again, unless you change your approach. Suddenly, on the 26th attempt, the ant gently climbed over the top, paused for a second, and I think he gave me the finger. Lesson learnt...sometimes persistence pays off, and despite the overwhelming odds of your success, you do succeed when you do not quit and declare it impossible. I think the secret is NOT GIVING UP, ignoring advice from bystanders (me), and persistent efforts in accomplishing your goal. I think often times, we quit too early, and forget that the next try would have brought success....
The things we do when we are bored.......... They are having a 12 hour race today... All nursing homes are providing walkers, and then the race begins... The rules are simple You need to "run" with your walker, and the only person to cross the finish line wins. And no, ants do not race, but they can hitch a ride. They cannot be used as an incentive to run faster.