“Quitting and stopping aren’t really the same thing.”
There are legitimate arguments to that comment. Dan Webster even uses a number of the same definitions for the words.
Yet, somehow there seems to be a distinct difference.
Quitting some might contend is just giving up, no more effort, the easy way out.
On the other look, stopping is making a sound decision based on practicality, common sense.
To quit has a bad connotation, on the forefront, yet can also be positive action.
Forever, promises have been made. Quit wasting money. Quit eating so much. Quit cussing. Quit arguing.
Those are all positive actions, started with best intentions, lasting for a time, but not followed through.
Yet to quit a job, quit working, quit exercising, quit helping others, quit trying to do better are generally negative.
Of course, many unique situations play into equations, but in the long haul it’s better to never quit.
A quitter is never a winner. Continued pursuit is required to get to the top.
Falling off three horses three times and then quit each of them. That’s a quitter.
A fourth mount on each of them may have been the conquering, winning ride. Years are gone-by too late to do anything about it, but always sorry for quitting. Another life’s lesson learned to never be forgotten.
However, endeavors have been stopped over the years. After stopping doing something positive, entertaining, profitable for a time, there’s nothing wrong with starting again.
Often stopping is a resting period, rejuvenation, reviving the bearings to move ahead optimistically, energetically.
After professionally riding more than 1,000 horses for customers throughout the country, business was stopped. Lost romance, lost ambition, lost nerves. Stopped, didn’t quit, yet no desire to pursue again.
Twenty-five horse production sales, plus additional livestock field days, all stopped. No romance, too much work, even costly. Stopped, didn’t quit, no intention to resume.
Judging horses professionally three decades in 20 states and 56 Kansas counties, adjudicating stopped. Pressures of logistics, travel, time, conflict. Stopped, didn’t quit, let the whippersnappers do it.
Living personal horseshow competition wholeheartedly with growing family, stopped for other equine pursuits. After two decades, showing resumed five years ago with young sprout adrenalin.
Reminded of Genesis 18:32: “Don’t quit. Don’t get angry.” Yet, Genesis 8:22: “For eternity, time will never stop.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XI–42–10-15-17