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I can’t do it…those were the words from my eleven-year-old the other day after attending her first Math Counts club meeting.  Her math teacher invited her to attend the club which meets after school and provides students with challenging math problems and competitions.  A week ago when she came home with the news of the club, she was so excited and couldn’t wait to attend and learn more about math.  The club attends regional and state competitions and she was psyched about it.  During the first meeting, they completed a test which revealed my daughter was on a lower level than some of her peers and she had a difficult time following the discussion.  She was being exposed to new material.  She came home deflated and wanted to quit.  “I can’t do it” quickly turned into “I don’t want to do it” which ensued a discussion about persevering and not giving up.  With practice, she would get it.

How many times has this situation played over in our lives?  It may not be a math problem that has us stumped, but a difficult coworker on the job or a financial hardship that doesn’t ever seem like it’s going away.  It may be a test we can’t seem to pass or a health issue that has us concerned.  Do we back down from the obstacle or do we press on?  Pressing on and persevering despite the challenge, is the stuff winners are made of.  They are resilient.  They keep going.  They welcome hardships and understand them as opportunities to grow.  They look back on the challenge and are thankful for the experience.

Next time you’re faced with a challenging situation, grit your teeth and decide you’re going to tackle it head on.  You’re determined not to back down and run.  You’re determined not to give in to fear.  You CAN do it!