Perseverance

Yesterday the kids had sports day at their school. They get to dress in the color of the House they were assigned and forgo the uniforms. They compete all day and gather points as they play all the games and have fun!

The afternoon was all about running activities. Natalie doesn't like running very much and hates it when her legs turn to jello. However, she knew her team needed points to win so she volunteered to run the 4 laps. Even though she HATES running.

Here she is just starting out for the Yellow team. I love the determination on her face. A few of the girls stopped and walked after the 2nd lap including Natalie but one 4th grade REALLY took off and lapped the walkers. Well, when the first girl won the others that were behind just stopped even though there was a lap left. But Natalie knew there was still a lap left and she continued to run her last lap! Everyone cheered her on and she got an extra point for her team! I was so proud of her! Even though she finished "last" she finished and with the WHOLE school watching her.

She held it together and broke down after she finished and  cried to me. She was worried she would get made fun of for being last or being the only one running. It is such a hard lesson to learn to be proud of who you are no matter what others might say or do. I hope she always perseveres, no matter how hard it may be or how much you hate it. I am very, very proud of her!

This is from a motivational poster I bought when we first got to Singapore and some things were hard. Yesterday, watching her run I only thought of Natalie.

Perseverance: The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength , not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.

Thank you for teaching me yet again Natalie. I love you.