Stickability (Grit)

My definition of this word: “The ability to stick to the task at hand no matter the obstacles so that a goal is met.” I’ve been teaching this life lesson for as long as I can remember. And I know and admit that I’m not the first one to teach it. But there are those who are saying this is a NEW revelation in educating children.

Have you heard about it? Grit…Yep, we’re being told our children need grit to succeed in school and life. We’re being told this is a NEW answer.

Don’t they know there is “nothing new under the sun?”

John Wayne taught us the importance of grit on the big screen in his Oscar-winning portrayal of    the infamous U.S. Marshall, Rooster Cogburn, in True Grit.

Remember the story of Charles Howard, the owner of Sea Biscuit? He knew that “his horse was too small, his jockey was too big, his trainer was too old, and he was too dumb to know the difference,” but he knew Sea Biscuit could win, in spite of it all. It was grit that took Sea Biscuit across the finish line in 1938 to beat the Triple Crown horse, War Admiral, by four links.

William Wilberforce (you may recognize a name similarity) used grit to fight without ceasing for more than 40 years until slavery was abolished in England on July 26, 1833. Wilberforce died three days later.  

Christopher Columbus used grit to find the Americas we call home.

I could go on and on citing every Olympic athlete who has ever competed and many others from all walks of life…grit, perseverance, determination, stickability.  

The idea of using grit to accomplish a goal is not new…enabling children to develop grit in this day and time is new. For too long we have made things too easy for children. We have done everything we could to keep children from experiencing failure and disappointment which is how grit is developed. Consequently, they crumble when the inevitable happens…they receive a lower than normal grade, they lose a race, they’re not chosen, they must accept no. Without the opportunity to overcome difficulties, our children cannot experience the joy of victory.

How do we encourage the development of grit? Go back to the definition of stickability—the ability to stick to the task at hand no matter the obstacles so that your purpose is met. The key is the “so that”, the compelling reason for sticking to the task until you master it…SO THAT you can fulfill your purpose.

Manners of the Heart does it by teaching children to do their best to become all they are meant to be SO THAT they can help someone else become all they are meant to be.

All of us need a purpose beyond ourselves to make sticking with it worth it. Children do, too.

From our hearts to yours,

 

 

To enjoy Sea Biscuit’s real-life triumph, take a look at the original footage from his legendary victory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVT2MPNCqgM