No substitute for hard work

I came across this picture today and it means so, so much to me. This was a time in my life where I was so stressed. Like really stressed. I was worried about not finishing residency on time. I was struggling immensely with breastfeeding and ultimately ended up stopping way before I desired to. I was studying like crazy literally with a newborn in one hand and books in the other. I felt an enormous amount of pressure to finish residency and pass boards because of doubts from my attending physicians and honestly me just doubting myself. I look at this picture and it reminds me there are no shortcuts. No one is just going to hand anything to me. I look at this picture and it reminds me there is no substitute for hard work. I look at this picture and it reminds me you have to put in the work to get your intended results. It reminds me not to make excuses and to go after what you want wholeheartedly. I look at this picture and I want to tell myself that it will be ok. That it has always been ok. That no matter how much I worry, things have a way of working out. I want to tell myself in that picture that God brought me through so much already and He won’t stop now. I look at this picture and know I HAD to finish. I HAD to. Because I knew that if I finished, I could then encourage someone else to do the same. I encourage you today to keep going. You. HAVE. To. Finish! Finish whatever it is that you started. Not just for yourself; but for everyone who is looking up to you.