At times, providing for a family weighs heavily upon me. I’m sure for you, too. I am a positive person and am grateful for what I have. I am generally optimistic. However, this song lays my core vulnerabilities bare. The desperate burden and fears I carry so deep within trying to succeed.

Read the GR Principal and Love Note after the lyrics below...

in this proud land we grew up strong
we were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail

no fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
but no one wants you when you lose

don't give up
'cos you have friends
don't give up
you're not beaten yet
don't give up
I know you can make it good

though I saw it all around
never thought I could be affected
thought that we'd be the last to go
it is so strange the way things turn

drove the night toward my home
the place that I was born, on the lakeside
as daylight broke, I saw the earth
the trees had burned down to the ground

don't give up
you still have us
don't give up
we don't need much of anything
don't give up
'cause somewhere there's a place
where we belong

rest your head
you worry too much
it's going to be alright
when times get rough
you can fall back on us
don't give up
please don't give up

'got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
going to stand on that bridge
keep my eyes down below
whatever may come
and whatever may go
that river's flowing
that river's flowing

moved on to another town
tried hard to settle down
for every job, so many men
so many men no-one needs

don't give up
'cause you have friends
don't give up
you're not the only one
don't give up
no reason to be ashamed
don't give up
you still have us
don't give up now
we're proud of who you are
don't give up
you know it's never been easy
don't give up
'cause I believe there's a place
there's a place where we belong

The Love Note / The GREAT Relationship Principle

So so much that I have worked so hard at has failed, has not come to fruition, has fallen flat. (my blog, workshops, marketing efforts, etc). And while I understand that it is through failures that we learn and how we eventually arrive at success, they are still disappointments that weigh on me. Especially when, for most of our early and mid-marriage, I was providing for a family of six off of a community mental health therapist’s income

And yet Kara believes in me. Kara encourages me. She says, "You're the smartest man I know." And, “If anyone can figure it out, you can.” Many things I've tried haven't worked out. She's not once thrown them in my face. And when I have a new idea or project I want to try she listens patiently and is supportive and encourages me to do it.. Maybe she doubts it will work as there's enough evidence of things not working, but if she feels that way, she keeps it to herself and encourages me anyway. Her faith in me helps me through so much. Her faith in me means so much. It comforts me.

Comfort and encourage one another.