Defined by Webster as: ‘continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition’.

Sam (my almost 21 year old son) and I went to California last weekend to watch the Colorado Buffs lose a football game to UCLA.

 He has always drenched himself in the ocean while the rest of us stay on shore.

He grabbed a boogie board and asked if I wanted one – I said nope, not doing it, I’ll watch you.

We got to the shore and he told me to come in, but I said feet only.

A few moments later I was up to my knees, it was freezing.

Sam said, “Come on Mom you are already wet, get all the way in.”

The water warmed up and a wave hit me and now my shorts were wet.

He kept trying to put the boogie board strap on my wrist and I yanked it away.

Suddenly I was up to my waist.

I said ok but I am not getting my hair wet – the hair had already been straightened.

Another big wave approached and keeping the head dry was no longer an option.

Sam did not give up and my brain kept saying, this moment will pass you by.

Finally, after relentless prodding, I put the strap on and gave it a try.

I had no idea what I was doing but I was doing it.

I caught a couple of waves and it was very fun – I would even do it again.

Persistence pays off.