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THE CONCEPT OF TENACITY: SIGNIFICANCE
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
For those of us who’ve been wondering how tenacious the human spirit truly is, let us look at life’s most painful
scenes.
Have you ever heard of situations where fire-ravaged homes in which the blazes have been put out, become
settings for heart-stopping real life drama? I have seen countless times on the news such heartbreaking scenes:
a mother and child burned to death holding on to each other; siblings burned to death while embracing each
other; a grandmother burned to death while holding her grandchild. Countless other such scenes have been
shown on TV news, casting a new meaning to the word TENACITY.
Of strange and entirely opposite coincidence was this father who managed to bring his fighting cocks to safety
while leaving his children behind to bring their younger sibling (or was it siblings) to safer ground while their
house was burning. Totally incomprehensible, this one bit of tragic news, bringing the word TENACITY to a
whole new light of atrocity.
And then there are those situations where hospital patients and accident victims hold on to dear life, in the
sincere hope that a new lease on life would be granted to them. When hope seems to be fading for such
people, it is their loved ones who hold up the torch. Visibly stronger than their sick and fallen relatives, the
more able ones hold on. In some cases, the strength which the more able ones provide is able to somehow
effectively bridge the gap closer towards life than to certain death. Unfortunately, for a great many others, even
the tenacity with which the much stronger ones hold on might not really be enough to keep death at bay. But
the sad fact remains: when the ill loved one loses all inspiration and hope to live, the tenacity with which the
others hold on can never suffice. Life is snuffed out easily once the one to live loses the willingness to continue
living.
And then there are those who continue clinging to the memory of a lost loved one—not necessarily a dead
loved one. Perhaps, the lost loved one has found another beloved, or has gone far, far away. Maybe, the lost
loved one just decided to live an entirely new life, apart from those in his past. Those who cling to the
memories of such lost love are doomed to live their lives forever in limbo, merely drifting instead of existing,
coping instead of moving on, dying slowly instead of living.
There are many ways by which intelligent beings hold on. And there are many things that intelligent beings
hold on to. What really matters is the significance of what we hold on to, the impact of what we adhere tightly
to.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
What principles do people often hold on to? What principles do you personally adhere to?
2.
How do people demonstrate their tenacity in life? Cite examples.
3.
Why do people lose the will to live?
4.
How can we encourage someone who has lost all interest in life?
5.
How best can one cope in life after losing a loved one?