I am not one to give up on someone easily.
In this week alone, I have had two people thanking me for not giving up on them.
Some might remember me training a bunch of kids from St Joseph’s. They were so rebellious and naughty that I have received more negative comments about them than positive ones and most people think I should just give up on them, which I actually almost did. After training them for 3 months, being super tough on them, and then super soft on them, nothing worked and I was ready to cry foul and give up.
And I actually did, and I gave it my last shot - I found all my available energy and patience, sat the newly appointed leader down and spoke to him. He asked me to give up. I asked him to just try. We argued. He wants me to give up on them. I wasn’t ready. We argued more. And then we quarreled. At the very end, I lectured. And I left him with a couple of messages and it was all up to him. I have done all I can.
He wrote me earlier this week thanking me for not giving up on them, in particularly, him because now everything is picking up. Better and faster than I’ve expected.
Then there’s my friend who has clinical depression. We became friends and we talked. I challenged him to do a couple of things he didn’t think he could do. We talked and all, and in the end, he did and he was immensely proud and sent me a text to thank me for not giving up on him.
Sunrise at Santubong Kuching, (Borneo) Malaysia.
Yet, when it comes to myself, I can never see the light. I don’t give up on people easily, but when it comes to myself, I often see myself as a failure irregardless of what people say. There is just always something that is not good enough, or something lacking about myself. Even my results are never good enough.
Isn’t it odd that we can provide hope to other people but become hopeless when we face ourselves or our own fears?
May 19th, 2008 - 2:54 am
It’s probably the perfectionist nature in you. I sometimes feel the way you do too. Just try not to be too hard on yourself and remember that you are making a big difference in the lives of so many others. Doesn’t that count for something?
May 19th, 2008 - 4:29 am
maybe when it comes to ourself, we need to talk to someone else :)
mmm.. positive thots help, i think… u think? ;)
May 19th, 2008 - 1:33 pm
I know what you mean. It’s such a contrast, ain’t it? We can be ultra supportive, never give up, encourage others and see the best in them, but yet we can’t do it for ourselves.
Maybe it’s because we are in the forest, that’s why we can’t see the trees. Maybe we too need someone to be there for us, to be supporting and encouraging us. Maybe we are just human after all. :)
Don’t give up, sai loh! We (your friends in blogland) are here for you. *hugs*
May 19th, 2008 - 4:18 pm
It’s normal. =)
It’s actually not that we give up easily on ourselves. It’s just that, we dare not put high hope on ourselves, thus making a statement like this so that we don’t fall hard. But deep inside our heart, we ourselves know that we are actually still trying and hoping to succeed, no?
May 19th, 2008 - 4:32 pm
HOW TO GIVE UP ON YOU? Oops, caps lock!! Darn thing.. I will never give up on lormaikai either, or even KFC.. no matter what! Ever!
May 19th, 2008 - 10:07 pm
thought for u: r u projecting ur own feelings unto others when u help them out? (if u are, jt make sure u know wat u’re dealing with within urself).
May 21st, 2008 - 6:25 am
you’re a great person and you should know it. it doesn’t take good results to be great. remember if you aim to be a perfectionist, your character is flawed. because even the best are modest enough to know they are not the best. i believe in you :) x
May 23rd, 2008 - 11:11 am
We’re always more critical of ourselves than others.. so.. you are better than what you see yourself as..