In an effort to better understand perseverance, courage, and following ones dreams I looked to contemporary literature, particularly Ernest Hemingway’s, The Old Man and the Sea. The story base’s itself around the most unfathomable circumstances - an old man, Santiago, capturing one of the largest fish in the sea. Remove this story from the context of a novel and the premise seems all the more impossible. But what was once perceived as not possible has once again found an unexpected way to show that the outcome is completely viable.
In an effort to better understand perseverance, courage, and following ones dreams I looked to contemporary literature, particularly Ernest Hemingway’s, The Old Man and the Sea. The story base’s itself around the most unfathomable circumstances - an old man, Santiago, capturing one of the largest fish in the sea. Remove this story from the context of a novel and the premise seems all the more impossible. But what was once perceived as not possible has once again found an unexpected way to show that the outcome is completely viable.
The story is driven by the idea that the battle of hopelessness can be won through the power of your beliefs. When situations receive the title of hopeless, it usually causes us to naturally withdraw from its cause. So much so, that people would view it as silly or stupid to persevere.
Hemingway’s story is driven by the key points of facing one’s obstacles allowing for passion to steer the reins. His story does not come lightheartedly, as he clearly depicts the pains of adversity. Santiago’s hands were bleeding and cramped, his head delusional, his body malnourished, but his belief in tact. The belief that he could land the marlin, this gigantic, 18-foot marlin.
He was his own reinforcer, his own model for support. Memories of youth, good people, and the great DiMaggio, were outlets to happy times, a handy tool when all else seems lost. And lost he was. At the mercy of the sea, he was pulled by this great marlin for days. Circumstances were no doubt unknown, but that is exactly how you do something you have never done before. You have to not know what is going to happen. Otherwise it would have been something you have already done, something you know the outcome to.
This story is a clear explanation of mind over matter. Upon thoughts of memories of lions and youth and the boy back home Santiago was, “feeling much better, but suffering exactly as much, and perhaps a little more.” This shows that it is not the actual suffering we remember and feel it is our thoughts and our beliefs that have the final say in what our brain perceives. If it weren’t for strong beliefs this voyage would have gone completely differently. Santiago would have succumb to the pain and length of the obstacles he faced. The difference between giving up and giving more lies within the belief of doing so.
Having no one to talk to, alone at sea, the old man’s mind wonders. He thinks of the marlin, he thinks of back home, he thinks of his memories, and he thinks of Joe DiMaggio. He wondered if DiMaggio, a legendary person in his eyes, would stay with a fish as long as he has stayed with this one. What a wonderful point. Could these extraordinary people that we look at with such prestige do what your good at? Does that not mean you too are pretty extraordinary?
What was so pivotal in this journey was the language Santiago used. Language is how we put meaning to our beliefs. The language we use to talk about an event is what we remember not the actual event that occurred. When trying to bring in the giant fish Santiago gasped, “I am not good for many more turns. Yes you are, he told himself. You’ re good for ever.”
The second statement is crucial. Without it failure would have been imminent. Instead Santiago, through his words, believed he had more in him, that he could keep going. This ability to show resilience through knowing you can be resilient is simple yet brilliant.
When all else failed, Santiago focused on the bright spots. When the first shark took a bite out of the now caught marlin he had been hauling, instead of growing angry at his loss he thought, “Every minute now you are closer to home. You sail lighter for the loss of forty pounds.” It is a great ability to see whats good even in the bad. By focusing on the bright spots, Santiago was able to push forward on his voyage home.
There are countless good things going on in our lives that we overlook. They remain masked by all the things that go wrong and our cognitions remain on the negative. We all share the desire for wanting to be positive, live positive lives, and describe ourselves with that simple, six letter word of happy. But clearly, and as Santiago brilliantly exemplifies, what we believe will become our reality. Focusing on whats good in our lives will help us in making our reality parallel our desires.
And so The Old Man and the Sea is a story that basis its foundation around the ideas of courage and endurance. What we would undoubtably pass up as a hopeless situation, Santiago point out as a missed opportunity. It will feel awkward, it will be uncomfortable, and you will feel fear, but we are all capable of far more then we think. So ask yourself, what do you believe in?
