If there is one thing I learned from my dad (pretty sure there is more than one) it is tenacity. I watched him take on one thing after another and overcome obstacles by sheer determination, over and over. He often included me as a helper when I was young, and I learned a great deal in the process. From working on cars, to home renovation, to dealing with people, I recall the actions he took. I was a very lucky young man to have a dad who was interested in teaching me how to handle situations that most people would hire another to get it done.
More than anything I want to highlight that he taught me to be observant and to learn by doing. I am not afraid to get in the middle of a mechanical problem or tackle a technical issue because of this. I know there is an answer and I may find it, but only if I stick with it to the end. Tenacious people make things continue to work instead of scrapping the whole thing and starting over, by carefully identifying the problem and fixing it. A relationship can be salvaged in the same way if both parties are willing to be tenacious and work towards resolution. The rewards are worth it.
In retrospect, some things just break. No matter how much time (or money) you spend trying to make it work again, it simply fails. This is counter-intuitive to tenacious people, but a fact of life. The best one can do is reach out for advice, if only to confirm there is no use wasting resources trying to fix the problem. Things break and must be replaced. Timing is most important, and as Murphy's Law would have it, breakdowns usually occur when you are least prepared.
The takeaway? Remember you are tenacious and you will figure it out. Also be a realist, as denial and dismay can only cause more problems or even magnify them. The challenge is probably not as big as it seems. Look at yo9ur options, do what you can do and keep moving forward. Part of growing as an individual is learning to adapt and overcome using what is available - requiring creativity. Just roll with it!
