Inthisinspiringandbeautifullyillustratedbook,bestsellingauthorMargaretWheatleyoffersguidancetopeopleeverywhereforhowtoperseverethroughchallengesintheirpersonallives,withtheirfamilies,attheirworkplaces,intheircommunities,andintheirstrugglestomakeabetterworld.Sheprovideshope,wisdom,andperspectiveforlearningthedisciplineofperseverance.Wheatleydoesnotoffertheusualfeel-good,rah-rahmessages.Instead,shefocusesonthesituations,feelings,andchallengesthatcan,overtime,causeustoloseheartorloseourway.Perseveranceisaday-by-daydecisionnottogiveup.Wehavetonoticethemomentswhenwefeellostoroverwhelmedorbetrayedorexhaustedandnotehowwerespondtothem.Andwehavetonoticetherewardingtimes,whenweexperiencethejoyofworkingtogetheronsomethinghardbutworthwhile,whenwerealizewe’vemadeasmalldifference.InaseriesofconciseandcompassionateessaysWheatelynamesabehaviorordynamic--suchasfearlessness,guilt,joy,jealousy--thatsupportsorimpedesoureffortstopersevere.Sheputseachinabroaderhumanortimelessperspective,offeringwaystoeitherlivebyortranscendeachone.Theseessaysareself-contained--youcanthumbthroughthebookandfindwhatattractsyouinthemoment.Perseverancehelpsyoutoseeyourselfandyoursituationclearlyandassumeresponsibilityforchangingasituationorourreactiontoitifit’sonethattroublesus.Theredeliberatelyarenoexamplesofotherpeopleortheirexperiences.Youaretheexample--yourpersonalexperiencesarethebasisforchange.InadditiontoWheatley’sgracefulessaystherearepoemsandquotationsdrawnfromtraditionsandculturesaroundtheworldandthroughouthistory.Thebookisdeeplygroundedspiritually,accessinghumanexperienceandwisdomfrommanysources.Thisgroundingandinclusivenesssupporttheessentialmessage--humanbeingthroughouttimehavepersevered.We’rejustthemostrecentonestofacethesechallenges,andwecanmeetthemasthosewhocamebeforeusdid.AsWheatleyquotestheeldersoftheHopiNation:“Wearetheoneswehavebeenwaitingfor.“
