By Rusty Potter
Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before inventing the light bulb. J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, was rejected by twelve publishers before someone finally believed in her words. Michael Jordan considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time was cut from his high school varsity basketball team. Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television job as a news anchor and told she was unfit for television.
Closer to home, in Monroe and across Louisiana, there are examples of resilience everywhere: athletes who train daily under the blazing sun, students who fight to achieve their dreams against the odds, and neighbors who rebuild stronger after hurricanes and floods. We are surrounded by people with the spirit to press on, even when circumstances say, “ It’s time to give up”.
Setbacks are not final; they are learning opportunities. Each disappointment teaches us, molds us, and prepares us for future success that we could not see while in the valley of failure.
Remember: True defeat only comes when you stop trying altogether. Today, I would like to urge you to not give up quickly. Your greatest victory could be just one try away. Keep moving. Stay hopeful. Be persistent and continue to believe in you.
