Thought For The Day – Monday 1st July 2024
Perseverance
Perseverance is the continued effort to do or achieve something, even when this is challenging, difficult or takes a long time.
Yesterday, the England men’s football team, although they did not play their best game, persevered, equalising with a brilliant goal, from a set piece practiced in training, with seconds to go, and then going on to score almost immediately in extra time. Slovakia certainly did not deserve to leave the tournament on the basis of their wonderful display yesterday, but they will also show perseverance going forward and continue to succeed.
Life is characterised with many ups and downs, and numerous moments in between. We keep going, we keep on keeping on.
As Sir Andy Murray nears retirement, perseverance is a word he has used about his career.
Through his early days in tennis, growing up in Dunblane, Scotland, managing expectation and disappointment, Andy Murray persevered. In a golden eleven months in 2012 and 2013, Sir Andy responded to tearfully losing a Wimbledon final with Olympic gold at London 2012 on the same court, a United States Open title in New York City and, after 77 years, becoming the first British player to win the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Championship. In 2016, he would replicate this to become Wimbledon champion again and Olympic gold medallist in Rio, Brazil, as he drove himself and give everything to reach world number one by the end of that year. Sir Andy’s most remarkable achievement of all has been his comeback after major hip surgery. All this was done in an era of tennis players who have been called the greatest to play the game. Sir Andy always shows character, humility, commitment, aspiration, respect, integrity and community.
“What you cannot teach is what is within. That is what makes Sir Andy Murray such a great champion.” (Sue Barker)
It should never be forgotten that Sir Andy’s brother Jamie and mum Judy have been outstanding and world class in their own right, in doubles and coaching respectively.
A superb recent BBC documentary on Sir Andy’s story:
Trailer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/videos/c51107gn0j3o
“Dreams to reality” extract: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/videos/cd1x6n4k705o
Documentary: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00203kt/andy-murray-will-to-win