Question and Thought for the Day January 22, 2025

Question of the Day

What childhood moment still haunts you?

Thought of the Day

It was this combination of passion and perseverance that made high achievers special. In a word, they had grit.

Angela Duckworth

The Power of Grit and the Shadows of Our Childhood

Thought of the Day:

“It was this combination of passion and perseverance that made high achievers special. In a word, they had grit.” — Angela Duckworth

What is it about grit that sets high achievers apart? Is it the drive to never give up, the belief that effort will eventually bear fruit, or the resilience to keep going when the road gets rocky? Maybe it’s all of the above, woven together by a deep sense of purpose.

Grit isn’t glamorous. It’s not the loudest voice in the room or the boldest declaration of intent. Instead, it’s quiet, steady, and unwavering. It’s the artist who paints through rejection, the entrepreneur who rebuilds after failure, and the parent who keeps showing up even when exhaustion hits. Grit isn’t a single moment; it’s a lifetime of choosing to show up.

Angela Duckworth’s words remind us that passion and perseverance are equal partners. Passion gives us direction, while perseverance provides the stamina to follow that direction. Without one, the other loses its power. Together, they transform potential into achievement.

But grit doesn’t just appear. It’s often forged in the fires of our past, including the moments that haunt us.

Question of the Day:

What childhood moment still haunts you?

Most of us carry echoes of our childhoods, moments that shaped us—some for the better, others as lessons we’re still trying to understand. These memories linger, not because we want them to, but because they demand our attention.

Maybe it was a word spoken in anger that made you question your worth. Or a time when fear overtook you, and you froze instead of acting. These moments, though painful, often hold the seeds of our greatest growth. They challenge us to rise above, to build grit, and to prove to ourselves that we are stronger than the shadows of our past.

For me, the haunting moments are reminders. They whisper, “You survived this. You can survive more.” They remind me to be kind to my younger self, who didn’t know then what I know now. And perhaps, they remind me that healing isn’t about erasing the pain but about learning to carry it with strength.

Reflect and Share
What does grit look like in your life today? And what childhood moment still haunts you, shaping who you’ve become? These aren’t easy questions, but they’re worth sitting with. If you feel comfortable, share your thoughts in the comments below. Your story might be the spark someone else needs to keep going.

Closing Thought:
Grit isn’t about being unshakable; it’s about standing back up when you’re shaken. And sometimes, the moments that haunt us are the very ones that build us. Let’s honor both—the grit that keeps us moving and the memories that shaped the journey.