"Stellar Synonyms"

Here's the weekly story taken from my third book, "Lemons Into Margaritas." It's interesting to note these stories, written more than a decade ago from daily interactions with inspiring folks like you, still ring true today. The life lessons from the encounters resonate loudly when thinking about current issues like systemic racism, economic upheaval and COVID-19. This story was born from a chance encounter at Kinetic Fitness during the Colorado Rockies incredible late-season run in 2007 that led to the franchise's only World Series appearance. "Stellar Synonyms" defines two character traits the Rox of that year demonstrated in abundance. Let's get real folks, America could use them in massive doses right now. Enjoy: 

The morning after the Colorado Rockies’ 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the 2007 National League Championship Series, I climbed aboard a Stairmaster at Kinetics Fitness Studio for a workout.

“How about those Rockies?” beamed physical trainer Matthew Hammel. I nodded and smiled because the eleven-inning victory was Colorado’s nineteenth win in the last twenty games on the team’s improbable, unbelievable, exhilarating regular season and post-season dash from chumps to potential champions. 

During those days, wherever you went in Denver, baseball and non-baseball fans were jumping on the Rockies bandwagon. If you listened closely, the conversations describing baseball’s all-time best surge into the postseason usually focused on two words: patience and perseverance.

“Get a dictionary,” I breathlessly stammered at Hammel. “Look up those words.” 

A short while later the excellent trainer returned and reported, “Patience is defined as ‘calm endurance of hardship or annoyance.’ Perseverance is ‘to continue steadfastly, especially with something difficult or tedious.’”

Either definition accurately described how the Rockies had turned what appeared to be another ho-hum season into the greatest campaign in franchise history. Earlier in the 2007 season, with the team floundering, critics were calling for the owners to sell the club, fire the general manager, and jettison the field manager. Fans were staying away from Coors Field in droves. Despite the heated criticism, team management remained patient, the players persevered, and suddenly the Rockies were the talk of baseball. 

It was a great example of patience, the calm endurance of hardship and annoyance. It was also a great example of perseverance, of continuing steadfastly when times are difficult or tedious. Truth transcends sports. 

Halfway through my workout, I asked Hammel, “Which comes first, patience or perseverance? If you had to choose one, which would you choose?” 

He stood there, staring at the dictionary, analyzing the two words’ respective definitions. “I don’t think you can distinguish between the two—they’re synonymous,” Hammel said.

I think he’s right. The characteristic the Rockies displayed, whether it was patience or perseverance, is a wonderful and necessary trait we can utilize against difficult and tedious hardships we face at home, at work, and in our communities. In other words, venues change but the strategy is the same.

Might it be time to exercise patience in your marriage, with your children, or in other relationships? Might it be time to display perseverance with career goals or physical and mental challenges, like quitting smoking or losing weight?  

This week, don’t quit in your effort to reach desired dreams and goals. Hang in there! With yourself and others, exercise patience or perseverance, the stellar synonyms. Success might be just round the next corner! Without enduring steadfastly life’s difficult and tedious hardships, you’ll never know. The key is to endure. 

Those beliefs sparked the Rockies’ freakish 2007 run to their first and only World Series appearance. Those beliefs about patience and perseverance also helped me complete a great workout that morning (and many since). And they can help you finish whatever challenging tasks you face today.