There was a great deal of snow that winter and the separate garage of our family's house was connected to the street by a very long driveway.
A snow plow could not be used because not only was there no place to pile the pushed snow, but also the driveway surface was crushed stone, therefore, my Father had always shoveled it, but now he was recovering from a heart attack.
Although making many telephone calls, Mother was unable to locate anyone to shovel ~ but the driveway had to be cleared. So very tall, thin, little energy, un-athletic me had to do it.
Following my Father's advise, I slowly lifted the snow off in layers. Mother monitored my progress and insisted that I come in the house for a rest every 20 minutes.
At winter's end, there had been six major snow storms and I had shoveled during all of them.
To utilize my now strong muscles to the best advantage, I decided to join the canoe club to which many of my friends belonged, but in order to do so, I had to take and pass a Red Cross canoe course. I did not anticipate any problem for I was a good swimmer (and could float on my back for long periods of time, even doze while doing so) and I knew how to correctly paddle and steer a canoe.
However, it was the final test that was the real test ~ while alone in a canoe, in deep water ~ to get out of the canoe without getting any water in it and while holding on to it with one hand, which ruled out jumping or diving from it.
Then, while in the water, to get back into the canoe without taking half of the lake in the canoe while doing so.
Eventually all the class members graduated except for three of us, but the instructor allowed us to return to keep trying.
One of our three gave up and the other mastered the technique ~ and I still struggled. Never had I been so determined to succeed, but I was beginning to be discouraged.
One day, after another unsuccessful half hour, a woman who was helping me get the canoe out of the water, commented "Sorry you failed again."
Most fortunately, my instructor heard the comment and said words that I have always remembered ~
"No, she has not failed, she has come closer to success."
With that encouragement, I took the canoe out again and was able to finally do both maneuvers correctly ~ thus qualifying me for my Red Cross Certification. There were many enjoyable trips with my friends.
A well known saying is ~
"If at first you do not succeed
try, try, try again."
The author wisely did not write ~ try again ~ or even ~ try, try again, but instead knew that for some people (like me) extra effort would be needed.
The repetition of the word ~ try ~ compensates for the fact that it is a weak, insecure, maybe-ish word.
What loose strings of projects and endeavors are hanging from your life? Did you stop after encountering a knot or three?
Start the project again, avoid saying that you are going back to it, back is past, go forward with your project perhaps, finding another way of doing it.
On the street facing sign board of a small rural church were these important words ~
"Failure is the beginning of success."
