ONCE when I was feeling very demoralised and in fact almost lost all hope, I decided to browse the Internet. As if by design the following quotation popped up: "Enjoy where you are, while you are waiting to get to where you want to be." I had earlier on stumbled into another quotation which read: "PERSISTENCE: - persistence prevails when all else fails." I reflected on the two and this was what crystallised in my mind: "Enjoy where you are, while you are waiting, to get to where you want to be. Persistence prevails when all else fails". I have since then shared the quote, which reminds me to, stay positive and not to become unnecessarily depressed about situations which apparently look useless, with a couple of friends and colleagues who have confirmed how useful it has been to them as well. It is natural to become despondent in life when we feel we are moving away from our goals rather than moving towards them. When extreme frustration sets in we tend to take everything for granted including the job which provides us our daily bread, dignity and status in society. We tend to forget that we can be reduced to nothing if that status or position we so much might have taken for granted slips through our fingers. When one handles responsibilities anyhow he likes because he feels he could have been better off than where he is now and treats colleagues, spouses and friends with impunity it doesn't take time to destroy his own fortunes. It is very important to always remember our past and humble beginnings, reckon with the present while we hope and aspire towards the future. The story is told of a lady who never destroys the dresses her house helps first arrived with. She keeps them and anytime they become arrogant and forget their background, she shows them the old clothes as a reminder of their humble beginnings. Don't ever spite your job or what you have. Remember the days when you 'fasted and prayed' for the job you now have, the house you are living in or relationships you may be in. Sometimes we see challenges where really there is no challenges but opportunities. The apparent scanty salary you may be receiving now, for example, could be mobilised through consistent savings to set you up in your own business. Your company can even guarantee a bank loan for you now when you are in active service. You may, however, only realise (but late) what you could use to your advantage when you leave the organisation or marriage, etc. When some people face challenges they become vain and bitter. They always complain and get angry with virtually everybody and everything and are almost always in a pensive mood. While it is good not to bottle up bad feelings, if you vent your frustrations through anger, bitterness and wearing of long faces you repel those who could have come closer to you to assist you to surmount your challenges. It is better to cheer up and talk to people who will not pull you further down the drain. Those who refuse to do this often end up leaving notes such as, "Life is not worth leaving. I have decided, to end it all, good bye." This new trend of facing challenges is unfortunately creeping into our society. Challenges are everywhere but to face them and be happy is all a matter of attitude. That is not to say it is that simple. My point is that no matter the setbacks we face now we never lose focus. It may take some time and some work to reach our goal. Hold fast onto what you have now: your marriage, your job, etc. Try to endure and to enjoy them. We all have the ability to keep going. When we face challenges in our lives it is essentially an issue of attitude - how we manage the challenge. We can have a positive attitude towards life, or a negative attitude. We can focus on the good' or we can focus on the bad. Keeping a positive mental attitude is one of the keys to leading oneself successfully. The choice, however, is always up to us. Clare Boothe Luce states that "there are no hopeless situations, there are only men who have grown helpless about them." Never lose focus of your goals, neither should you ever feel like giving up. "Enjoy where you are at, while you are waiting to get to where you want to be." By W. B. K. Safo Email: (kosa532003@Yahoo.co.in)