In class this past week, we learned about grit and tenacity. These are two very interesting words. Well what do they mean? The Merriam Webster definition of grit and tenacity are:
"Grit- firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger"
and,
"Tenacious (Tenacity)- persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired".
These two words' definitions have similar concepts. Both involve a sense of hard work and determination. Those are two things that anyone needs to have if they want to be successful. I can connect it to my own drives and incentives for being successful in sports.
I swim and play water polo for South, and both are tough, fast sports that require great knowledge of the sport, and flawless technique. It is almost impossible to come close to perfect in these sports, but I have seen and experienced that with some elbow grease and determination, it is possible to come close. However, what I have seen and experienced had come with a price.
The success came with hours upon hours of practice in a cold pool. It came with hours of lifting in the weight room. It came with blood left on a wet pool deck. It came through victories and failures. But these are prices that are necessary for success.
I believe the quote from Leonard Brody in the Tenacity vs Intellect video exemplifies tenacity in swimming and water polo perfectly. He says, "... it is about taking ten punches to the stomach, and getting up for the eleventh, and being prepared that the risk you take, and the failure that you'll inevitably face at some point down the road is exactly the right path".
The two sports do require much hard work, and a lot of pain, but it is the right path, because it is the only path that will lead to success at the end of the season.
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