I ONCE SAW A PHOTOGRAPH of a dandelion plant. On its own, that image wouldn’t be anything special: dandelions are everywhere. But these dandelions were nestled atop a small mound of asphalt. Somehow they had managed to push through this seemingly impermeable barrier and reach their goal: bathing in sunlight and fresh air. If there is a better illustration of patience than this photograph, I’ve yet to see it.
High-character people are like these dandelions: they keep pushing on with their mission until they prevail. They don’t allow themselves to be diverted from their path by external forces, and their persistence pays off. You may not think dandelions are beautiful, but I think you will agree that from their perspective, their struggle was a matter of life and death—and they lived. Isn’t that the greatest beauty of all?