"It's Just Too Hard"

Dear Students,
How many times have you felt this or said it? "It's just too hard." I had an experience myself that will always stay with me. I was taking a very difficult course at MIT. At the time, I was married just a few years, working near-full time at an engineering company, taking care of our 6 month old baby (who, by the way, is now in her own world of hard at a nearby law school), dealing with my beloved father's struggle with cancer and ... well, you get the picture. I was tired. I was scared.

I remember coming home one night exhausted. Crashing into a chair in our living room. I threw down my briefcase and the baby's diaper bag. I kicked off my shoes and then kicked them across the floor. I was so angry and tired and scared I just wanted scream. I may have, come to think of it! I do recall crying and saying, "Forget it. Just forget it. I quit. It's just too hard."

The next day I was visiting my dad in his hospital room. He could tell I was down, really down. My father was recovering from surgery. He had wires and IVs and was very ill. Full of selfless love and concern, he said, "Joanne, what's wrong?" I burst into tears and told him my whole sad tale. Then, I confessed that I was afraid. I was afraid of failure, I was afraid I wouldn't do well in this prestigious course I was in. I was afraid I wasn't giving our baby enough patience because I was so exhausted. I was worried about my mother and how worried she was about my father. And, I was very afraid of losing him, my father, my hero. Dad said, with a smile and some tears, "Well, honey, who knows how my whole health thing is going to play out? Only God knows that. But as for that course...y'know, it's supposed to be hard." I stopped crying. I stood up straight. I listened. Dad smiled and continued, "Honey, if it wasn't hard, then everyone would be doing it."

Wow. Twenty-three years later, my father's powerful, loving words still inspire me, motivate me.

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending Mr. Pete Moscariello's incredible seminar on "Mental Toughness." If you ever get a chance to attend this seminar, do so. It will change you. [I think it should be mandatory for every student and every teacher at RMHS. I really do.]

About half way through the seminar, Mr. Moscariello talked about when things get hard, really hard. He showed a clip from the movie "A League of their Own", a movie I've heard of, but have never managed to see. The scene is where Gina Davis has had it. She wants to quit. She says those exhausting, defeating words, "It's just too hard." Take a minute and watch the clip. I have the included the link in this post. Be sure your speakers are on. Hear what Tom Hanks' reply is.

Now, to my parents ..."Thank you. Thank you for absolutely everything."

Feel free to comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndL7y0MIRE4