A Blue Tang Fish in a 2003 movie gave an innocent quote which everyone thought would be great for children who need motivation. Dory, from Finding Nemo, broke into her mantra “When life gets you down do you wanna know what you’ve got to do? Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming” and it became an instant hit for all teachers and parents struggling to keep their children motivated. Simple, innocuous, silly and childish that’s what everyone thought of this quote and that was it. 

Come March 2020 and everything changes. The Big C hits the world, brings everything to a stand-still and imposes a new found term in people’s vocabulary: Home Quarantine. Now what does Dory have to do with Home Quarantine or the Big C for that matter? Well, think of it, what else can you do other than just keep swimming, just keep swimming? There can be multiple ways in which we can describe the ability to carry on, the prowess not to get burdened with calamity. We can call it being the phoenix (rising from the ashes), call ourselves unstoppable, the juggernaut but at the end let’s be realistic that we can do nothing but simply keep swimming. 

Perseverance is generally written and spoken with a bravado which misleads many. It is scary to think that perseverance requires a large amount of courage or strength, because to be honest after a year and half of this pandemic we are short of both courage and strength. When we talk about perseverance, we bring with it a sort of baronial outlook which is intimidating. Truth be told there is no bravery left, there might not be any strength left for a heroic approach to perseverance. Does that mean that we give up? Lay down the weapons and let fate take over? No. 

I believe it is time to think of perseverance in simplistic, non-heroic terms. It is not about bold, gutsy ad valiant outlook on life. It is not about taking challenges like a home quarantine with undaunted valor. It is not to do with an audacious grappling of the tyrant that is Covid. Let’s not be worried if we do not have the brute energy to fight this pandemic. Do not kick yourself if you don’t find that vigor in you to be home quarantined or lack the tenacity to see loved ones suffer. Sometimes perseverance is all about patience. 

Let’s think of perseverance as an unflinching, steady dedication towards finishing the task at hand. It need not be heroic, valiant or filled with bravado. It can be simply sitting in a room for 14 days doing your work just so that you recover fully and do not infect the ones that you love. Perseverance is a tranquil movement towards supporting your loved ones as they try to fight this pandemic. Perseverance is a serene , temperate and compassionate outlook to beating the pandemic. 

So don’t worry if the strength and brute force seem to drain out sometimes. You just need to peacefully keep swimming till you reach the destination. That is what perseverance is all about.