If someone punched you in the mouth, would you punch that person back? It’s an interesting question with a not-so-simple answer.
My friend Aaron Tecklenburg asked me that question years ago about the young men we were coaching on the wrestling team. He wanted to know how many of them I thought would actually punch back if they were punched. That’s a tough evaluation to make.
How about you? Would you punch back?
The most macho of us might say “absolutely,” but what if the person who punched us was Chuck Norris? Or how would we respond if that person had a weapon? Or 10 other tough friends nearby? Or what if you are a man, and the person who punched you was a woman? Or vice versa?
The least macho of us might say “violence is never the answer,” regardless of the situation. But what if your life were in danger? Or the lives of those you love? Or what if you suspected that the person punching you was going to continue to do it day after day to you or to others?
Like most things in life, the answer to this question isn’t so easy. But if you take the literal and physical aspects of the punch-in-the-mouth question out, the answer really comes down to how a person responds to setbacks. And regardless of who we are, or what our life experiences have been, we all have to deal with them.
My wife, Jolene, chooses a word every year to serve as a theme for the sales team she manages. This year, she chose the word “grit” to help guide them through their victories and challenges. People may define grit in various ways, but the underlying meaning usually ties to a firmness of character or an indomitable spirit.
My friend Forrest Ridgway uses a similar term to guide him with his response to life’s challenges — “tenacity.” Some of the formal definitions of tenacity are the act of holding together, being cohesive, not easily being pulled asunder, or, simply stated, toughness.
A few of my more arrogant acquaintances (who will not be named here) prefer the word “chutzpah,” which can mean shameless audacity or impudence. I have found these are the folks who most often get punched in the mouth.
Grit. Tenacity. Chutzpah. Call it what you want. But when life punches you in the mouth, how do you punch back? Shoot me a note and let me know.
Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com | 
