Dear Educator,

How many times have you found yourself facing the same challenge, again and again? Maybe it’s a student who just doesn’t seem to grasp the material. Maybe it’s a lesson plan that never quite comes together. Whatever the situation may be, it can be frustrating to feel like you’re not making progress.

In situations like this, it may seem life is telling you to back down. The battle was fought, and defeat was the result. After all, failure is a part of the human experience, and sometimes it’s prudent to move on. Sometimes that’s exactly what needs to happen. But sometimes the battle isn’t over, and walking away is just giving up.

“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”

Margaret Thatcher

So how do we know when to keep fighting? The answer, it seems, is resilience. Resilience is that human quality which allows us to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep moving forward. We show our resilience when we choose to return to a fight which can and should be won. We show resilience when we set aside the comforts of life (and our longing for them) and push forward into meritorious adversity.  

The universe, and all its laws, has a say in whether a battle can be won. We cannot ignore objective impossibilities. However, where a battle can be won, only you can determine whether it should be. In making that determination, remember the world and your future self will thank you for not walking away from a good and winnable fight.

Make it a great day, dear educator, and choose to be resilient.