The Value of a Struggle Good Things Come to Those Who Persevere
April showers bring May flowers. It's a popular thing to say and hear around springtime, but one thing you might not know is where the rhyme originated. It reaches back to the mid-1500s, when it was written by Thomas Tusser in his collection titled “A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry.” The phrase “April showers bring May flowers” is a reminder that even the most unpleasant of things — in this case, the heavy rains of April — bring about very enjoyable things, like the abundance of flowers in May. The quote is also a lesson in patience that remains valid to this day. For Kevin, an experience that really embodied this notion was when he ran the Atlanta Marathon. Almost a year ago this month, Kevin was in the thick of the It is the second month of spring. It is a time of planting and spring-cleaning. In the Southern Hemisphere, April is the same as October in the Northern Hemisphere. Fun Facts In Ancient Rome, the month of April was sacred to the goddess Venus. The Japanese fiscal year for most businesses starts on April 1. In England, there are many cuckoo festivals. The arrival of the cuckoo bird in April is a signal that spring has arrived. April is the month when the professional baseball season begins in the United States. The diamond of April symbolizes innocence. The Boston Marathon is held during April.
recovery process following the longest run he’d ever taken in his life.
“Marathons are 26.2 miles, and during the race, my knee gave out at mile four,” Kevin explains. “But I knew I had to will myself through it in order to complete the goal I had set for myself. There were a couple of motivating factors that enabled me to put one foot in front of the other. No matter how exhausted my body was, I just kept thinking about the fact that my family was waiting for me at the finish line. I just kept reminding myself that I was running toward all of them.” Despite the struggle (and the pain) he endured during that race, Kevin was able to celebrate with his family the second he crossed the finish line. While he
claims that he has no intention of running another marathon, he is thankful for the experience. It reiterated his belief that many of life's greatest things come only to those who persevere, even when times feel especially difficult. After all, by patiently and happily enduring the downpours of April, you have a greater appreciation for the sights and smells of May.
Easy Bacon and Spinach Stir-Fry
This super easy stir-fry is the perfect weekday dinner. It manages to pack a ton of flavor using just a handful of ingredients.
Ingredients • 3 slices bacon • 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped • 2 bunches spinach Directions 1. Heat a large skillet to medium. 2. While skillet is warming, cut bacon into squares.
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper • Salt and black pepper, to taste
4. Add garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes.
5. Add spinach and crushed red pepper and stir-fry for 10 minutes.
3. Cook bacon until fat is rendered
6. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.
and bacon is almost to your desired doneness. If desired, you can remove bacon fat from skillet and replace with 1 tablespoon oil. However, keeping the fat is recommended for flavor.
Inspired by OhSnapLetsEat.com
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