Poems For Encouragement And Perseverance
The Tortoise And The Hare

...The Tortoise and the Hare follows on from Poems For Encouragement - Perseverance When Effort Is Greater Than Reward

How I Came To Write This Poem About The Tortoise And The Hare

I thought of the famous story of The Tortoise And Hare when I was living with severe illness.

I had been bedbound for many years, and sometimes – often – I felt I would not get well.

I knew the fable was about perseverance which I needed! but I wasn't well enough to go to the library or go on the internet.

So I wrote myself a poem for encouragement and perseverance against the odds. (I had very little use of my hands so I dictated most of my work onto a dictaphone.)

In May 2008, after 17 years of severe illness - ME/ CFS and 14 years of being bedbound, I started walking again.

If you are holding a space for your dream, thank you.

Whatever it is, persevere.

Keep taking steps towards it, and – as in the story of the tortoise and the hare – you will get there.

You are getting there.

Congratulations.

A Poem About Perseverance The Tortoise And The Hare The tortoise sets his sights upon the goal and moves towards it slowly, bit by bit. The hare is without doubt more quick, more fit, and yet he suffers from complacency – he smirks and takes a nap beneath a tree. So sure to be the first to cross the line, he wants to see the tortoise close behind, so as to witness his defeated face as he, with pride and triumph, wins the race. But the tortoise, he just keeps on going. Not moving in a lightning flash, yet not without his own panache, he passes by the sleeping hare and wins the race, both fair and square. For though we may be lacking speed perseverance is all we need. It's OK to only be able to move forward a little at a time. “Let us throw off everything that hinders... and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV) © Katherine T Owen, 2009 For an explanation of the practice of releasing judgment – It’s OK to... How to use spiritual quotes as part of your spiritual practice.

I have only just now looked up the original Aesop Fable of The Tortoise And The Hare and I am amazed how accurate the poem is. I had thought that the hare's anticipation of revelling in the tortoise's defeat was my addition.

It is truly wonderful how, in times of difficulty, stories and quotes can surface in our mind to encourage us to find the perseverance to continue.

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