Somewhere in my past, I found inspiration in my own home-made inspirational slogan: Keep on keeping on . It could have been at high school, the day I was chosen for the school’s athletics team. The elation of the prestige of the honours award was short-lived for me, because I knew that my parents couldn’t afford the special clothes and the travelling money I needed as a team member.
I went home, closed my bedroom door and with tears in my eyes spoke to the girl in the mirror: “Merinda Lynette Beer, one day, you will not struggle any more,” I promised myself and made a decision never to allow circumstances to kill my dreams.
On my way to school, I used to walk past a travel agency. I remember looking at beautiful pictures of Mauritius and of Mickey Mouse at Disney World, thinking that I would never be able to visit these places. When my mother told me that hope had to be complemented with one’s own efforts, I started dreaming about going there – and made a decision that I would keep on keeping on .
I took a job at the local greengrocer and started earning my own pocket money. With my yellow temperament and natural lack of structure, I regularly had to pay in at the till. But the Portuguese owner was kind and understanding and a tremendous support – he even helped me get my driver’s licence.
Today I can look back at one visit to Mauritius ( been there, done that ) and three visits to Disney World. I climbed the ladder of success in the corporate world. I became a nasty, self-driven person and made more money I could spend – until the day I decided to opt for a brand new, meaningful start, planting Seeds of Inspiration in other’s lives.
Life is an extended game of cricket, with more curved balls coming at you than you could ever anticipate. Some matches you win, others you lose, sometimes rain gives both sides a break. Your fans might love you more in times of victory and make jokes about you when you lose – but it’s the keeping on, through circumstance and hardship, that keeps you in the game.
No matter what your challenges are, keep on keeping on!
