I've been thinking.
And that's not easy.
Before you think I'm rhyming,
let me assure you, I'm not... deliberately.
I've simply been thinking about
this word called tenacity.
.... okay going into normal writing mode....
I saw this show called Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency where a young model was dismissed for having a bad attitude. The crucial turning point for her dismissal (according to the show) was an episode where she threw a fit against a senior staff of the company. The senior staff told her that the soft drink she was drinking wasn't good for her body which was beginning to gain weight. Furious, the girl told Janice "I damn well drink whatever I want."
It reminded me of what someone told me recently. He said, people type themselves and refuse to change themselves, or rather see no need for change. They insist, 'this is who I am', and see little hope or need for change.
There are several angles to view this from. Some might feel this as symptomatic of individualism, others may see this as an existential phenomenon. Before I go philosophical and bore you to tears, let me state the angle I'm going in, simply tenacity.
Tenacity is a great word. It means being persistently determined. Tenacity tells you, don't give up easily, persevere, keep going at it. But what is 'it'?
I think it is great when the 'it' are values. Like, "I'm going to support my parents in their old age no matter whether they ask for it or not." or "I'm going to do my best in the test without resorting to cheating." or even "I'm going to give up my seat on the bus and train to the elderly no matter how tired I am, how heavy the things I'm carrying or who looks at me weirdly." People who apply tenacity to mold themselves into strong characters, to uphold moral righteousness in their lives, to pursue worth (like climbing Mount Everest) certainly shows humanity in the best light.
However this tenacity can be mistakenly applied as shown by the young model. Perhaps in her case, people might argue that she's not being tenacious, but being stubborn and prideful. So what's the difference between being persevering and tenacious, against stubbornness?
It is all in the 'it'.
When the model refused to recognize and acknowledge the problems caused probably by her own mistakes, she misinterpreted advice for antagonistic attack. That aside, she mistakenly persevered in holding to her own stand, refusing to heed advice. The 'it' in her case, was her pride.
At the end of the day, and of this post, are a couple of questions to ponder. Are we blind to our flaws? Are the things we are being tenacious about, worth the effort?
If you feel that having that soda drink triumphs the loss of your boss' esteem, I will certainly not say nay.
