Don't Give Up!

Checkmate by Moritz Retzch

There is an old painting by Moritz Retzch called "Checkmate". In the image, a young man plays chess with the devil for his soul while an angel looks on silently. For centuries, people viewed this painting as the very essence of hopelessness. The young man has fewer pieces than the devil, and he has obviously given up because there are no moves left. 

One day, an actual chess player named Paul Morphy saw the painting and caught the hidden message. When he set up his own chessboard exactly as depicted in the painting, he found that the young man had one move left with his queen that would immediately turn the tide of the entire game. Suddenly, the painting took on a whole new meaning, with the angel looking on not in despair, but in hope that the man would make the right move. He just couldn't give up too soon.

Hopelessness is a dangerous thing. We all have bad days, and sometimes they can be so overwhelming that we think they won't get better. But I want to encourage you in something today: So far, you have made it through every bad day in your life!

Sometimes we face situations and problems that seem impossible at the time. I can almost guarantee you've had moments in your life up until this point that have sent you reeling. Yet the key remains in consistency and strength, taking each day as it comes.

There are many times I wish I could go back to grab my twenty-something self and say, "It may be dark now, but it gets better. It does get hard, and it doesn't always seem easy, but it gets better. Just hang in there." I'm probably not alone in that sentiment either. But we can't change the past; all we can do is learn from it.

We've all messed up, we've all made mistakes, and we've all had the opportunity to learn from them. Just remember that your next move matters more than your last mistake. Don't let a bad day make you think you have a bad life. No matter how you feel in the moment, remember that you matter (click the link if you need a reminder of why).

Today I want to make a simple statement to you: don't give up too soon. Whether it's a situation at work or in life, and there doesn't seem to be an obvious answer, don't give up yet. Keep on trying. Look at it from every possible angle. Find that next perfect move. It might change the tide and make the next one even easier.

Don't quit playing the game!