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January 27, 2012

Werner Braun: Never give up, never surrender

Dalton Daily Citizen

Being a good example to my children is a task that I take very seriously. With all the pop culture influence and peer pressure that’s out there today, being that good example can sometimes be a daunting responsibility for any parent.

And as my children are now both in high school, helping them to navigate through the ever-changing world is my role, and more specifically, I would like to share with you about my son, wrestling, Winston Churchill and perseverance.  

It’s an odd combo at first glance, but they are all held very near to my heart.  

Many, many ages ago I wrestled in high school, and got involved again a few years ago when my son, Bay, started wrestling in middle school. Now in high school, he has made varsity as a freshman.

For anyone who has ever been there, making a varsity team as a freshman is a big deal — and even more, such pressure is a big challenge. Wrestling is not an easy sport; it’s an intense competition, and an athlete must master the right throws and moves to pin down the opponent in order to take the “W.”

And though winning is nice, it isn’t the most important thing about wrestling. The thing that I like the most about wrestling is how it’s a metaphor for life and learning. In life you have to make preparations, and in wrestling you do the same: one’s body must be physically fit, mind emotionally balanced and heart spiritually equipped to excel, and it’s when you slack off that it’s hard to meet your potential.

We all have days when we want to throw in the towel, but the advice I tell my kids (to paraphrase former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill): “Never, never give up.”

Do you know the famous saying? As the story goes, on Oct. 29, 1941, Churchill visited Harrow School in the United Kingdom to hear the traditional songs he had sung there as a youth, and to speak to the students. When he was invited to give a speech, Churchill stood before the students and said, “Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.”

The speech, which may not seem like the cleverest, was given in a time when the world was on the brink of World War II. The courage that it takes to continue pushing forward even when life is chaotic is a powerful thing — and for this reason I reflect on his words in my daily life and encourage others to do the same.

Because it’s what I’ve always told my kids: Work hard and good things will happen, and never, never give up. In the moment, it’s sometimes hard to see the good in a situation, such as getting pinned and losing to your opponent. Life is about more than the easy days, it’s about the hard ones, and learning from the days when we all get “pinned.”  

To see a display of wrestling, perseverance and Churchill will in real life, go to the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center today and Saturday to watch the National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s 2012 National Dual Championships. You’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. Among the 24-team field are five of the NCWA’s top six programs in its most recent coaches poll, and seven of the top 10 teams.

It’s guaranteed to be a great showing of sportsmanship and life lessons, and I personally wish all the teams good luck.  



Werner Braun is president of the Dalton-based Carpet and Rug Institute.

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