[James Matthew Najera]

General Discussion Thread 08.31.2025​

Hey GrayViners!

Life has a funny way of testing us—sometimes with challenges, sometimes with patience—and the things we don’t give up on often end up being our proudest accomplishments.

So here’s today’s question: Looking back, what’s something you’re really proud you didn’t give up on?

Image credit: Pexels/Jorge Urosa

For me, it was singing. I used to be shy about my voice and thought about giving it up more than once. But I kept at it—singing in the car, humming around the house, and little by little, finding the courage to let my voice be heard. Sticking with it brought me confidence, joy, and plenty of singalongs I’ll never forget.

Now I’d love to hear from you: what’s something you’re glad you didn’t walk away from?

Share your story below so we can celebrate those victories together.

Cheers!
Blue

 

[Arkie98]

I was always amazed how Mom could do so much canning but i was afraid of the pressure cooker, especially when she had one blow up. Glass and beans all over the kitchen. But she just got another one and continued. So when got older, and married, decided i would try. Over came the fear and one year i did 900 jars of every thing imaginable.

 

[NIBOR0]

My Grandma alway told me that I had to go to college. She said that education was only something I could do that no one could take away from me. Even though I beat the odds when I dropped out of college my senior year to have my oldest daughter, I still went back and finished. At 51, I even went back and got my Master's in Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare. I'm very proud of that!

 

[Joyvigg]

I never gave up my Tap Dancing...74 years old and still tapping.

 

[RoyzToyz]

My Grandma alway told me that I had to go to college. She said that education was only something I could do that no one could take away from me. Even though I beat the odds when I dropped out of college my senior year to have my oldest daughter, I still went back and finished. At 51, I even went back and got my Master's in Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare. I'm very proud of that!

 

[RoyzToyz]

My Grandma alway told me that I had to go to college. She said that education was only something I could do that no one could take away from me. Even though I beat the odds when I dropped out of college my senior year to have my oldest daughter, I still went back and finished. At 51, I even went back and got my Master's in Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare. I'm very proud of that!

Well done, well done indeed !

 

[RoyzToyz]

We

I never gave up my Tap Dancing...74 years old and still tapping.

Well done, well done indeed !

 

[RoyzToyz]

I was always amazed how Mom could do so much canning but i was afraid of the pressure cooker, especially when she had one blow up. Glass and beans all over the kitchen. But she just got another one and continued. So when got older, and married, decided i would try. Over came the fear and one year i did 900 jars of every thing imaginable.

Well done, well done indeed !

 

[Gayle B.]

Playing my trumpet! I started playing in the 6th grade. It was handed down by my deceased Uncle. I was overjoyed to have his instrument! I continued to play through my military service and practiced and played for primarily for myself. That is until it was stolen a couple of years ago.

 

[RoyzToyz]

Playing my trumpet! I started playing in the 6th grade. It was handed down by my deceased Uncle. I was overjoyed to have his instrument! I continued to play through my military service and practiced and played for primarily for myself. That is until it was stolen a couple of years ago.

Well done, well done indeed and I am sorry that it was stolen from you a couple of years ago. There are times when these is no justice in this world !

 

[ajsiciliano]

I never ever gave up on me and my career. I was in software sales for almost 40 years, and it is alternately lucrative and brutal beyond belief. I'll spare you all the details, as it 5:20 now, and I don't have until midnight, but it is an everchanging industry. Companies that adapt to changes stay profitable and ahead of the game, and those that don't fall behind while learning of the meaning of Chapters 11 and 7. Well, I'm done, I just turned 70, and my first SS payment is less than one month away! I'm still doing some very easy part time work, I play a lot of golf, skiing is around the corner, and I devote at least one day a week towards raising my wonderful granddaughter.

 

[Sally2417]

I choose to work in a war zone when I was 60 years old. It was a great experience something I never would have imagined I would do. Most people stay a year or less. I stayed for 4.5 years. It was tough for many reasons. But as we get set in our ways. Sharing tight quarters with someone you didn’t know and sharing a bathroom with 20 men and women was no picnic. But I did it and proud that I did.

 

[NancyCL]

I went to college after high school, but for many reasons, I never finished. Feeling bad because of this, I went back to school while working full-time and caring for my house and family. My wonderful husband supported me all the way, taking up a lot of the household chores. It took me four years to attain an Associate's Degree, which made me proud, but I wanted to fulfill the goal of getting a Bachelor's Degree, which I managed to do in three more years. It was tough going. I hardly watched any TV or did much socializing, but I graduated Summa Cum Laude, attaining a much-wanted goal. I was accepted into a Master's Degree program, but life took over, and I had to pass that up, but I'm proud that I accomplished what I originally set out to do!

 

[TriciaR]

I was always amazed how Mom could do so much canning but i was afraid of the pressure cooker, especially when she had one blow up. Glass and beans all over the kitchen. But she just got another one and continued. So when got older, and married, decided i would try. Over came the fear and one year i did 900 jars of every thing imaginable.

Wow, thank you for sharing this @Arkie98 ! What an incredible story of turning fear into something so productive and rewarding. Nine hundred jars is absolutely amazing — that must have been such a busy (and tasty!) year in your kitchen. Do you still do a lot of canning these days, or was that one record-breaking year the highlight?

 

[TriciaR]

My Grandma alway told me that I had to go to college. She said that education was only something I could do that no one could take away from me. Even though I beat the odds when I dropped out of college my senior year to have my oldest daughter, I still went back and finished. At 51, I even went back and got my Master's in Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare. I'm very proud of that!

Thank you so much for sharing this @NIBOR0 — your grandma’s words clearly left such a lasting impact. What a powerful example of perseverance, especially going back and earning your Master’s at 51! That’s such an inspiration. Has your love for learning carried over into other parts of your life as well, beyond your formal education?

 

[TriciaR]

I never gave up my Tap Dancing...74 years old and still tapping.

Thank you for sharing that @Joyvigg — I love this! Still tap dancing at 74 is such a wonderful achievement and a great reminder that passion keeps us young. Do you perform with a group, or is it something you enjoy more for yourself these days?

 

[TriciaR]

Playing my trumpet! I started playing in the 6th grade. It was handed down by my deceased Uncle. I was overjoyed to have his instrument! I continued to play through my military service and practiced and played for primarily for myself. That is until it was stolen a couple of years ago.

Thank you for sharing your story @Gayle B. — what a meaningful connection to your uncle through that trumpet. I can imagine how heartbreaking it must have been to lose it after so many years of playing. Do you still have the chance to play today, or are you thinking about finding another instrument to keep the music going?

 

[TriciaR]

I never ever gave up on me and my career. I was in software sales for almost 40 years, and it is alternately lucrative and brutal beyond belief. I'll spare you all the details, as it 5:20 now, and I don't have until midnight, but it is an everchanging industry. Companies that adapt to changes stay profitable and ahead of the game, and those that don't fall behind while learning of the meaning of Chapters 11 and 7. Well, I'm done, I just turned 70, and my first SS payment is less than one month away! I'm still doing some very easy part time work, I play a lot of golf, skiing is around the corner, and I devote at least one day a week towards raising my wonderful granddaughter.

Thank you for sharing @ajsiciliano — what an incredible career journey! Nearly 40 years in software sales shows real resilience, especially in such a fast-changing industry. It sounds like you’ve struck a wonderful balance now between part-time work, plenty of play, and special time with your granddaughter. Do you think you’ll miss the fast pace of the industry, or are you happy to have traded it in for golf and ski slopes? ️

 

[TriciaR]

I choose to work in a war zone when I was 60 years old. It was a great experience something I never would have imagined I would do. Most people stay a year or less. I stayed for 4.5 years. It was tough for many reasons. But as we get set in our ways. Sharing tight quarters with someone you didn’t know and sharing a bathroom with 20 men and women was no picnic. But I did it and proud that I did.

Thank you for sharing this @Sally2417 — what an extraordinary experience and such a brave choice to make at 60. Staying for 4.5 years when most people didn’t last a year really shows your strength and adaptability. Looking back now, what do you feel was the most valuable lesson you carried home with you from that time?

 

[TriciaR]

I went to college after high school, but for many reasons, I never finished. Feeling bad because of this, I went back to school while working full-time and caring for my house and family. My wonderful husband supported me all the way, taking up a lot of the household chores. It took me four years to attain an Associate's Degree, which made me proud, but I wanted to fulfill the goal of getting a Bachelor's Degree, which I managed to do in three more years. It was tough going. I hardly watched any TV or did much socializing, but I graduated Summa Cum Laude, attaining a much-wanted goal. I was accepted into a Master's Degree program, but life took over, and I had to pass that up, but I'm proud that I accomplished what I originally set out to do!

Thank you for sharing such an inspiring journey @NancyCL — your dedication and determination really shine through. Balancing work, family, and studies is no easy feat, and to graduate Summa Cum Laude is such an incredible achievement! It’s also wonderful that your husband was right by your side, helping to make it possible. Do you feel that reaching this goal changed how you approached other challenges in life afterwards?