Come rain or shine, 88-year-old Bermudian Johnny Barnes devotes six hours every day to an endearing traffic ritual that has made him one of the island’s most cherished citizens.

We’ve all been there—working tirelessly toward a goal that seems just out of reach. The hours feel long, the progress feels invisible, and doubt starts to whisper in your ear: “Is this even worth it?” It’s in these moments, when the temptation to quit feels strongest, that perseverance matters most.

What we often fail to realize is how close we might be to a breakthrough. Growth isn’t always linear. Sometimes, it’s hidden just beneath the surface, waiting for that one final push to burst through. The most successful people aren’t always the most talented or lucky—they’re often the ones who just refused to give up when things got hard. They kept digging, even when the diamonds weren’t yet in sight.

Quitting might bring short-term relief, but sticking it out builds resilience, character, and results. Each setback is a setup for a comeback. Every moment of struggle is part of the story you’ll one day tell with pride. So the next time you feel like walking away, remember: the finish line could be just around the corner. Keep swinging. Keep showing up. Your persistence might just be the thing that turns the impossible into reality.

There’s something uniquely haunting about the fears we’ve carried the longest. They embed themselves deep within us, often formed in childhood or shaped by early experiences. Unlike fleeting anxieties that come and go, these foundational fears don’t just whisper—they echo. Over time, they can morph into quiet narratives that influence how we see ourselves, what we believe we’re capable of, and how we interact with the world.

Old fears aren’t necessarily logical. They’re emotional, powerful, and often rooted in moments when we felt powerless. Maybe it was the fear of not being good enough, of being abandoned, of failing in front of others, or simply being unseen. These fears can harden into assumptions: “I’m not smart enough,” “I’ll always be alone,” “If I try, I’ll fail.” And because they’ve been with us so long, we stop questioning them. They become part of the lens we view life through.

But here’s the truth: just because a fear is old doesn’t mean it’s true. In fact, the very age of it may be proof it’s outdated. You’re not the same person you were when that fear was born. You’ve grown, learned, and survived so much since then. So the work becomes recognizing those old fears for what they are—ghosts of a younger version of you. And then, gently but firmly, choosing to move forward anyway.

Because your oldest fears might be the worst ones—but they don’t have to be the strongest.

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
—Winston Churchill

I came across a simple two-panel comic the other day that hit harder than most essays I’ve read. In the first panel, a man stranded on a deserted island sees a boat in the distance. He jumps up, arms raised, and shouts, “BOAT!” Relief floods his face. His isolation may finally be over. In the second panel, we see the man in the boat. He sees the island—and the man on it—and he too shouts, “LAND!” He’s just as overjoyed, perhaps exhausted from being adrift in open water, desperate for solid ground.

It’s a beautiful, humorous, and profound reminder that perspective is everything. One man sees salvation in the other. Both are in need, and both offer something the other lacks. Too often, we get so focused on what we’re missing that we fail to realize someone out there may be seeing in us exactly what they need. It’s a powerful lesson in empathy, gratitude, and the value of connection. Whether you’re on the island or in the boat, don’t discount your own worth. And when two people meet, each bringing what the other needs? That’s where the magic happens.

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” — Samuel Beckett, “Worstward Ho”, 1983. Irish author, dramatist, & novelist in France (1906–1989)