Learn to Give-up...Sometime.

These two memes from quickmeme.com and www.funnymeme.com are two of the best memes I have ever come across. I think the reason is the fact that they are simple yet really articulate in regards to the message they convey: never give up. The prey in these images are relentless in their quest for freedom (well, that sounded like some political jargon used in the anti-colonial times). 

The thing is, in most cases our freedom is on the line; our careers are on the line; our relationships are on the line; our friendships, survival, and even lives are always on the line. We may lose- no scratch that. We LOSE a lot. More often than not, we fail more than we succeed. Ask Michael Jordan, one of the best basketball players of all time (if not the best). That guy was just phenomenal. He was once quoted saying "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Generally, our mentors, parents, partners, associates, and peers encourage us to push on even when times seem to be bleak and hopelessness creeps in. Personally, I am an advocate of relentless and resilient aggressiveness. I believe we have a tough spirit embedded inside us- you can feel it. You wake up in the morning and feel like going back to sleep for the rest of your life, or until the moment comes when you won't have to face the bleakness of your extant circumstances. Yet you still deliberately choose to face the new day with enthusiasm of the 300 Spartans, on their deadliest quest for victory. Our spirit man is wired in such a way that its tenacity can not be broken. 

Nonetheless, a time comes when giving up is the only option, for posterity to be realized. Before I delve further into this, a quote from the Kenyan Eastlands would do hehe. Well not really a representation of the whole area but just a belief held by one Ekodydda who says in one of his raps "..God, nataka ku-give up in fact nime-give up juu najua kuna mtu juu atachukua that is YOU." (God, I wanna give up, in fact, I have given up because I know someone UP will take over, that is YOU.) That just did it for me. The fact that we at times demonize giving up yet it might be the only option one has. 

Now, what I mean is simply this: there are situations that seem entirely hopeless. Relationships that are bound to fail, if not failing already. There are associations whose very existence is a breath of destruction and despair. There are careers that we may choose, which kill our very beings, destroy our very hopes and castrate our long-term dreams. Life gives you one hard blow and destabilizes your grip and we run to the nearest and easily accessible corner, like in a boxing ring, to seek support and stability. These corners include relationship/marriage partners, businesses and careers, amongst other choices that we often opt for during such tough times. We end up forming circumstantial habits that are a product of our despair and hopelessness. You hear someone saying "I had to steal. I had no other option." Or "I had to hang in there, after all who's gonna pay my rent?" 

GIVE-UP! Our only limitation is us. Your greatest enemy is yourself. I mean life hits you on one cheek, but that doesn't mean you should turn the other cheek and allow life to mutilate your face multiple times. Give life a "Give-up" knockout punch, only when you are sure you are fighting a wrong battle. What if the problem is that academic course you're pursuing? What if it's your girlfriend/boyfriend? What if all this time you were meant to be an athlete like the Kipkemimis we know, and yet you are busy herding cattle? (not that herding is bad, but is that all your life will amount to?) What if your purpose is encapsulated in offering timely solutions to entities, organizations, institutions, the government, and communities, and yet all you do is parading your social drinking prowess and what I call "puff puff expertise"? You were meant for something higher than yourself, something greater than your current setbacks. You were created for greatness. But first, you need to give up those habits, that relationship that is killing you, that career that is strangling your dreams, those buddies that are messing your life. Soon as you are fearless enough to quit all these, the bleak situations in your life will definitely brighten and give you a sense of accomplishment.