A story of Determination

This story is often told about the world-famous pianist, Jan Paderewski. He was once asked by a fellow musician if he could be ready, at very short notice, to take over and play a difficult piece of music at a concert because the pianist  who was supposed to play had suddenly fallen ill.

“I am always ready. I have practised eight hours every day for forty years to be ready,” replied Paderewski.

The other pianist said,  “I wish I had been born with such determination.”

Paderewski replied, “We are all born with it. I just use mine.”

Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860- 1941) is one of the most important and cherished

figures of Polish history. Not only was he an accomplished pianist but he was a composer, politician and statesman. He is one of the greatest personalities in the cultural and political scenes not only in Poland, but indeed the world.

The Little Bird.

After God had finished creating the animals, they went walking and jumping and swimming about and having great fun.
All of them, that is except for the birds who were feeling very cross and disgruntled.  They shuffled from place to place moaning and complaining to everyone they met. 'Why has God placed this heavy burden on our shoulders' they asked everyone they met. 'No other animal has this burden. Why have we got these heavy awkward  things hanging from our shoulders?' they complained.
'Why us? Why has God punished us?' they asked sadly. 
Finally one of the more adventurous birds began to wriggle those awkward things on his shoulders and to his amazement and delight he began to fly!
The birds discovered that the very things that they had considered to be a terrible burden actually made it possible for them to fly--- and no other animal could fly! so they realised then that what had appeared at first glance to be an enormous burden, had turned out to be a most precious gift.

Moral of the story

Life will always present us with difficulties, but in overcoming these problems, we grow and develop and become better, stronger and more able to cope with the next crisis that comes along.

With enough determination you will always find a way.

Are you determined to succeed? With enough determination you will always find a way.