Props: Grit
“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”
America is a country built by people who literally tarred and feathered other human beings that they didn’t agree with. Andrew Jackson shot and killed a worthy adversary in a duel (classic tale of grit, the ole “Red River Shootout”) only later to become the President of the United States. Amerigo Vespucci got into a boat with a shotty-at-best map, and I presume he began sailing by saying something like, “Fuck it, load up the boat, we’re heading west and we’ll figure it out… trust me on this one.” Grit was the wind in their sails that led them to discover my country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty. I can assure you they ‘rised and grinded’ often but didn’t have the technology nor the bitchassness to dare share this with their ‘followers’. Lewis and Clark had a follower once, and that woman helped form this country not by retweeting L&C’s great ideas of an expedition but getting up off her ass up and making herself useful with her bare hands etc… If you cannot tell by now I’m talkin’ about, it’s GRIT.
Personally, I am guilty of many un-gritty things, but that only makes me human. I once watched a rom-com while eating ice-cream; it’s been six years, and I still haven’t gotten over it. More importantly, however, it’s time to acknowledge all those past and present that inspire others with their grit. My inspiration @PFTCommenter likes to dish out Gritcoins to those deserving. I believe in this movement wholeheartedly. Grit is what paves the highways. Grit is what puts the brick on the mortar. Grit is your body’s internal clock waking you up at 5 a.m. and it’s not so you can discuss #NursingGirlProbs. The Trojans displayed grit in the form a wooden horse, the Spartans in 300, and Jerome Bettis on 3rd and short. Grit is college students during finals week, Michael Jordan’s “flu-game”, and Mel Gibson in the Patriot. Grit is 2 for $2.22 QuikTrip gas station hot dogs for lunch when you’re in a hurry. Grit puts the kids to bed and assures a livelihood through the toughest time.
“Think on your feet, make things happen, impress people not only with your work, but with your hustle, desire, and chutzpah!”-George Lois. Chutszpah, grit and moxy are the real characteristics that built everything you see around you. It’s time we recognized those that somehow play the cards they’re dealt and beat the house. Grit packs your lunch pale and punches the time card. Grit seals that big sale in an unorthodox way. Grit gives you the power to drink that one more beer and drive one 317 yards straight down the fairway even though you’re so drunk you can barely see the woman’s tee. America was founded on Grit. I’m not certain, but I don’t believe those who defended the Alamo snapped a pre-Alamo selfie… why? Because they were too busy being gritty and thinking about gritty things like gun powder.
The “participation era” that our youth are currently growing up in is un-grit. Now, my friend Woody Harrelson says 80% of life is showing up but that other 20%, in my opinion, is putting up, getting skin in the game and performing. Now if you lack skill or try and fail, you are still a grit-warrior. Like FDR said, “Often times the most successful person in the room is the one who has failed the most.” You might just be one failure away. I, myself, am not the smartest person, my friends and the editors of this website will reassure you of that. I often take L’s, as many of us do. Now, in the TedTalk below, a very smart person, Angela Lee Duckworth, describes the power of grit over IQ to determine success. She says, “Grit is passion and perseverance, sticking with your future not for a week, month or year, living life like a marathon not a sprint.” Remember folks, you can’t spell integrity without GRIT. If you have a person or example in mind, create an account and share in the comments, it’s time to recognize one another you gritty sons-a-bitches. +1 Gritcoin.
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