DON'T Give Up, DON'T Ever Give Up

Part of an ongoing series about Do's and Don't's 

"we are starting the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. And it's motto is 'Don't give up, don't ever give up.' That's what I'm going to try to do every minute that I have left. I will thank God for the day and the moment I have. If you see me, smile and give me a hug. That's important to me too. "  - Jim Valvano, ESPY'S 1993

This is an excerpt from one of the most influential and famous speeches in the history of athletics which can be seen here. Jim Valvano in this speech knows he is dying from cancer. However, he provides one key line that is the motto of his foundation and should be the motto of most of our lives.

DON'T Give Up, DON'T Ever Give Up

To often in life, it's much easier to give up than to keep pressing on. I have often noticed though that the people who refuse to give up are the people going through the most. I spoke with a lady recently who almost died from breast cancer. She lost one half of her chest and had a prosthetic "bra" designed as to not draw attention in public. This lady, who had the world against her, said sometimes she doesn't wear it, apparently it's a cumbersome process, but had a phenomenal attitude about it. Even saying she wanted to get a shirt that said "My hair's going to grow back but this won't." She was joking and in good spirits and all because she refused to give up on life no matter how bad it was. Too often, we give up on the little things when people with monsters staring them in the face refuse to give up. That's the only reason we live our lives in such comfort.

DO Keep Trying

Just watch the story of Arthur here. He was told to give up by people who "should" know what's the best for him. The doctors said he would never walk unassisted again. 



Shows what they know. He had given up, and he would've never walked unassisted again. However, when he stopped feeling sorry for himself, and stopped giving up, he not only started walking but started running. He changed his life because he refused to let other people tell him what he couldn't do and focused on what he knew he could.

Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give up

BGann