Favorite Quote

"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom."

~George Smith Patton

There are so many great quotes out in the world and for some reason this one I can relate to.  Success can be measured in many different ways to many different people.  To me, measure it in happiness and the feeling of accomplishment.  Recently, I've discovered that I needed a kick to get back on track with life, with my body, with my mind, and so on...  I needed to hit bottom and it happened.  Not in the dramatic movie way with someone passing away or going to rehab, but I just took one good look in the mirror and that did it.  So, now I'm on my way up.  Who knows how high I will bounce when I get there, but right now I am enjoying the ride.

I can still remember as a kid, I was never allowed to just quit something.  Whether it was studying for a spelling test (and trust me I needed to study!), taking karate lessons, helping around the house, or helping a friend out.  I had to keep with it, not only did I have to stick with something when it go hard, but I had to give it my all.  Somehow my parents would know, as if they had a sense for this, when I wasn't giving 100%.  Then I would hear my dad say, "As long as you tried your hardest, we're proud."  Every time I sit down in class or at a meeting to display a project, I can still hear my Dad saying that to me.  It's as if I am twelve years old again, sitting in the family room with both parents there.  That saying was it.  It showed me that I didn't have to be perfect, but I had to try; and not just a feeble attempt, but an honest to goodness work my butt off. 

-Meredith