It's easy to make an intense effort for a short time - it's a survival mechanism well ingrained in our genes - but when it comes to sustaining an effort over time, other factors come into play, as much biological and physical as mental and social: living beings who last organize themselves to last.
To last in a relationship, to last in the growth of a company, to last in a marathon, to last in wartime, to last in success, to last in the writing of a doctorate, to last in teaching... durations that are measured in years. Of all the eventualities that will inevitably present themselves to those involved, a certain number will put their abilities, organization and motivation to the test. Standing the "test of time" is another way of saying that we've found a way to avoid wearing out, exhaustion and renewal.
Those who last know how to set aside areas for recuperation, maintain sources of support and allow themselves time for reflection and learning, hence the idea of dosage, of measuring effort. Duration is both a question of method and discipline, and is nourished by progress. Being able to estimate it sustains hope, provides satisfaction and ensures that we're heading in the right direction. Entrepreneurs establish their "KPIs" [Key Performance Indicators], students estimate their self-assessment elements and, along the way, identify their own reasons for persevering.
Several conditions are systematically present in everything that lasts. These conditions - a mixture of organization, motivation, competence and satisfaction - can be taught, set up and maintained. In this way, seemingly insurmountable difficulties can be tackled from another perspective, that of duration, without discouragement.
Beyond survival, the value of duration is relative to the use to which it is put. The roof of a house or a car is expected to last more than a year; an electric arc that lasts is transformed into plasma and appreciated by the welder; even memory is defined by its duration, and each finds a use, whether short or long term. A faltering institution or relationship can renew itself... or cease. Creating new goals and projects gives meaning to duration; they are its foundation.
Thot has lasted for nearly 30 years; its craftsmen still find pleasure in it and continue to renew themselves, rest assured.
Denys Lamontagne - [email protected]
Illustration: Shutterstock - 2726745809
