This year, Queen Elizabeth II reached 70 years as our monarch (probably marking the occasion with a small marmalade sandwich and a cup of Earl Grey). Here in the UK, her loyal subjects have been given a four day public holiday to make sure her Platinum Jubilee is a proper 'do'.
It's is an astonishing achievement. We're talking about a woman who has remained active in public life into her 96th year. Whether you're a fan of the Royal family or not, you have to accept what she's achieved is remarkable.
If she'd got to 81 and said, "Right, I've done 55 years, I'm off for a jolly nice time at an Airbnb that caters for the corgis," and handed things over to Charles, would anyone have blamed her? I don't think so.
More than any other public figure alive today, the Queen has persisted. She's persisted through the complete reinvention of our society, personal difficulties, changing attitudes to the monarchy, the sudden loss of her dad at a young age, later on her mother and within weeks her sister, and then dealing with the loss of her husband last year.
Sure, she's had many privileges that helped smooth the path. But at huge personal cost, I would argue. I suspect you and I enjoy a lot more personal freedom on a daily basis than the Queen ever has. How much time we spend with our kids, where we go when, essentially choosing our own priorities in life. She pledged a lifetime of service to her people, and she's stuck to it steadfastly.
The Queen's persistence is a quality I want to highlight to my daughter this weekend. Because there's a valuable life lesson in there.
Persistence is a strong quality the most successful people have. No matter how hard it gets, they keep going. Even through ups and downs, they stay laser-focused on what it is they want to achieve.
Persistence = success.
That's a great lesson for every MSP owner. And of course there's a quote from Her Majesty herself on this - she's given enough speeches (despite not being a big fan of public speaking, apparently. Again - persistence).
“When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.”
I think that applies to a hard day at the office and not letting it get in the way of what you want out of life, as much as it does anything bigger or more profound.
When they have a hard day, the successful people don't lie down and give up (although lying on the sofa with a glass of red and wallowing for a bit is fine). They get back up again, dust themselves off and keep going until they succeed.
You'll struggle to find a better example of this in any person other than the Queen herself. And I think we can all be grateful for that.
