“Do or do not, there is no try.” - Yoda
Some images stay with you
forever. Like a gigantic fish encased in glass on a pier in Maryland does
for me. Allow me to explain.
It was twenty five years ago when my
wife and I were on our honeymoon in Ocean City, Maryland and I was still
getting used to wearing a wedding ring. We were walking on the boardwalk
when we got to the end and there was this enormous, mounted tiger shark staring at us.
This was no ordinary fish.
This tiger shark held the Maryland State Record weighing in at an incredible
1200 lbs. Far more intriguing was the fact that the monstrous fish was
caught on July 9th, 1983 off the shore of Ocean City by a woman from
Buffalo, New York, named Grace Czerniak. Someone who I believe would best
resemble your favorite aunt.
Nowhere, on the plaque next to the
shark, does it mention any personal statement from the angler about the
struggle that ensued once she hooked the massive shark. Nor, the actual
length of time the battle endured. The only evidence that she had to
prove that she had done what she set out to do was an impressively large fish
in a glass box.
It took Thomas Edison an epic amount
of effort till he succeeded and invented electricity. It took Walt Disney
twenty years and a whole lot of persistence till he could get the rights to
make the movie, Mary Poppins.
And it took it great endurance for Grace Czerniak, a middle aged woman from
Buffalo, to land a shark off the shore of Ocean City, Maryland. After
great effort the final result was success.
Another prime example of this kind
of effort can apply to marriage. I did not promise to try my best
twenty five years ago on March 24th, 1989. The vows I took to
my wife were called I DO’s. For better or for
worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and health, till death do us
part. Now, that is
something worth wearing a wedding ring for, which fits a lot tighter now, to remind
me to do what I promised to do.
So, whether you are inventing something,
taking on an exciting challenge, landing a shark or just loving your spouse
always, seek to do it till you get it done.
Swavel
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