Grit

Many definitions for grit. Bits of sand and tiny pieces of rock is probably the most common definition. But strength is another, and persistence is yet another. I tend to focus on the first, personally.

Where I come from – the southwest – sand and bits of rock are common. It is the stuff of sandstorms, sandy coverings of paths, walkways, and that sort of thing. In the New England of my youth, grit was spread on slippery winter roadways to provide traction. Later, salt and chemicals became the norm. In a literary framework, grit is the substance of reality and everyday life.

Looking down at the feet when walking on unpaved surfaces, we can see grit. Small animals live in a world of grit. Cars drive through grit all the time. Grit in this sense is almost cellular, not just granular.

Recognizing grit, thinking about it, means the real world to me. We walk on it. We can feel it.

The grit of persistence allows us to survive the pitfalls of life and arrive on the other side. We accept the negatives in life and thrive in spite of them. We can use the negatives to invent other scenarios to give grit a value of none other. That is what makes us thrive.

It is the grit of life that pushes us to succeed. I appreciate grit. Not a pleasant part of life, but a necessary one.

August 6, 2025

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