Double_Take__a_Memoir

Tyler Goutermout 9/14/10 Double Take Double Take Life can take unexpected turns when you least expect it. Or life can take a turn right from the start and can seem completely unfair. Some people feel like giving up and quitting when things don’t turn out the way you hoped. The lesson that all people should take is to never give up and as Kevins dad put it “finish the season.” (Connolly 43) Whether it is a small challenge or a life changing event that breaks you down as a person, you must push through the hard times, for humanity would not have evolved and progressed as we have if we never pushed through the challenges that life presents to us, no matter how unfair those challenges are.   Most people face a time when they can either give up and quit or are determined not to fail. It can occur in any small situation such as a sporting event. A team could be getting killed and decide to give up hope and stop playing. Others will work until the very last second giving 100%.  Kevin never gave up and was always giving everything he got even when it seemed as though there was no possible chance that he could do it. For example, Kevin attempted wrestling, even though it seemed impossible. He could not move like the other kids and it was hard for him to even make it through practice.  Kevin would come home with many bump, cuts, bruises, and swollen wrists, but not once did he complain.  His dad told him that he had to finish out the season, and feeling the sense that all humans feel when they realize that they are at moment where the difference between what someone can do and what someone will do defines them as a quitter, or someone like our resilient ancestors, who presevered thorough the tough times to get to a place where they will advance and be successful. Kevin definitely was not the quitter type.  However, in many cases people give up on things. They will not finish what they started and feel as though the challenges presented to them are too much to overcome. Not quitting made Kevin so much stronger as a person and showed himself that, just as our ancestors discovered as well, that perseverance, and determination, will be the greatest asset towards advancement. “So what' Go for broke and see what happens. Screw everything else.” (Connolly, 142) This thought, or one could call it an outlook, that Kevin had sitting on the top of the starting gate is the ultimate idea towards advancement. Breaking out of what people think you can do, and what you know that you can do will give someone the greatest feeling of accomplishment possible. The idea that nothing matters and that you will give it 100% evolves and pushes our ideas about limitations completely out the window. It allows you to see things from a new perspective, one that is free from the social norm, and will make way for human, and personal advancement. People that feel as though the tools they are given aren’t good enough will have that in the back of their mind during the challenge, but if one may break free of this idea of limitations, the possibilities are endless. Even though Kevin thought he hadn’t trained enough, his gear was too old, he wasn’t on a national team, and that he was the underdog, he pushed that all out of his mind when the time came to overcome the challenge presented. If all of humanity could adopt this idea, our species would advance 10 fold. Hard times are when some people may feel like giving up the most and fall apart completely.  These times are when people may lose their lives or choose to live.  For example, if a person is diagnosed with cancer, they can fall into a depression and let the sickness overtake them or they can choose to fight the illness and live. It is this desire to succeed, that failure is not an option is what pushes us father, and makes us stronger. Others feel as though it is impossible to overcome and will hit rock bottom.  These people may feel as though they need a huge amount of help and look at it as though they have to climb a mountain, while in fact all they need is a little push up the hill. Sometimes people need to realize when someone is sinking and just give them a little help up and give them that push that lets the determination come in. Most of the time they do not realize what they have ahead of them and will give up.  Life is like a “season.” It is about choices. It is important to choose to never give up when things are tight.      Kevin’s father was right. No matter what bumps, bruises, cuts, or scars you get, you must always finish out the season.  You must always finish out your life. Some things may break you down but that is when you have to overcome the hard times.  Quitting when things get a little tough and rocky will not make you a stronger person, or teach you a lesson. Most of the time you will think your life is over. But life is never that bad. There are always ways to make it through any hard time, and perseverance, and the idea of looking at the silver lining in tough situations is the most basic way to advance and overcome. WORKS CITED Connolly, Kevin. Double Take: A Memior. New York: HarperColins, 2009