When Giving Up Was Not an Option

6 days ago

Honestly, there are so many times I have felt like giving up. Sometimes it’s because things are not working out the way I expected. Other times, it’s just because I’m tired mentally, physically, everything. I used to think I was the only one who felt that way, but as I grew older, I realized that everybody felt like giving up at some point.

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One thing that helps me is thinking back to why I even started. Like, if I just leave everything now, what happens to all the efforts I already put in? It would be like wasting my own time. That thought alone sometimes makes me sit up again. I don’t want to start all over, and I don’t want to carry regrets around either.

Another thing I do is to just pause. Sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I’m not lazy, I’m just burnt out. So I take a break. I switch off my phone, sleep, or even just watch silly videos. Anything that takes my mind off the pressure. After resting a bit, I usually feel lighter and more ready to try again.

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Talking to people helps too. I don’t mean any and everybody else. I mean people that genuinely care about me. Sometimes, just telling someone, “I feel like giving up,” and hearing them say, “It’s okay to feel that way, but don’t stop,” gives me strength. Sometimes, they even remind me of how far I have come, because it’s easy to forget.

There was a time back in my university days when I wanted to give up. I had a serious issue with one of my lecturers. He refused to sign my course form, and when I reacted out of anger, he promised me that I would never graduate from that school. He stood on his word. I was offering two of his courses that year, plus one from his best friend. Life became hell for me. I felt like I was losing my mind because no matter how hard I tried, it was like I was fighting a battle I could not win. I failed his two courses even though deep down, I knew I did perfectly well.

I reported the matter to the head of the department, but nothing was done. The lecturer kept threatening me, and I honestly almost gave up. But when I thought about my mother and how she struggled day and night just to send me to school and my siblings who kept cheering me on, I woke up from my sadness. I decided to fight back that year. I called for my exam scripts to be reviewed, and by God’s grace, everything was corrected, and life went back to normal for me.

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I have accepted that failure is part of the journey. Before, when I failed at something, I would just pack up and hide. But now, I see failure as a teacher. It’s painful, yes, but it’s also useful. It shows me what not to do next time. It shows me that I am still trying, and that’s something.

Another thing I do is imagine my future. Sometimes I just sit down and daydream about the life I want. Maybe it’s a peaceful life, a successful career, or just being able to help my family. When I picture it, it feels real for a moment, and it reminds me that giving up will not get me there. It’s like giving myself a reason to push one more day.

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For me, prayer also plays a big role. I am not the most spiritual person out there, but I know what it feels like to just pour out my heart to God. Sometimes I pray angry prayers, sometimes I pray crying. But every time I do, I feel lighter. It reminds me that I’m not alone. Staying motivated is not magic. It’s about finding small ways to keep going even when you feel like stopping. Some days, you will be strong. On other days, you will just crawl. And that’s okay. The important thing is that you keep moving, even if it’s slow.

This is my response to day 27 of the #aprilinleo daily prompt. If you wish to join this prompt then click on this Link