The Blog

Day 9: Determined and never deterred.

If there’s a will, there’s a way. It’s that age old chestnut. Determination; that’s what I’m talkin’ bout (*snaps fingers, grinds neck from side to side, and waves index finger with pouted lips*).

Dictionary.com is all over it. For the linguistics out there, I provide you with the most subscribed definition:
Determined [dih-tur-mind]. adjective
1. resolute; staunch: the determined defenders of the Alamo.
2. decided; settled; resolved.
3. Grammar . (of a phonetic feature) predictable from its surrounding context.
Origin: 1490–1500.

Today I learnt that sometimes, against all odds, 5 hours sleep, a kangaroo jumping into your car and a serious shortage of maltesers, it’s not necessarily an action or taking another step that is required to achieve a goal. It’s standing still. Standing strong. And never giving up. Even in the face of failure.

That’s the mantra we’ve been living by at the raize the roof camp. It’s Day 9 and we’re still going. More people are taking action, none of us are entirely sure where things will end up. But we’re determined and we’re not deterred.

Urbandictionary.com captures today’s sentiment most accurately:
1.Determined
Pounding your cranium against an obstacle till your ears hemorrhage and you lose vision due to an unattainable, impractical objective that all others prior to you have failed to accomplish using equivalent techniques.

Furthermore, it’s this level of negotiation, communication, determination and drive that I can only aspire to acquire. This kid has talents. He’s going places. And he’ll get there.

If all else fails, do not take your eye off the prize (or the cupcake). Chances are, if no one else can deliver, Ellen can!

Oh, and for the record, I did take an action today. Just waiting for the outcome. And my cupcake.