"Patriot" is a TV series that I watched on Amazon, it was a mix of dark comedy and drama. It follows the life of an intelligence officer John Tavner, played by Michael Dorman, the actor that plays Joe Pickett, another favorite show. Tavner, is a troubled operative, on a mission to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. Despite his unique ability for the job, he struggles with the toll it takes on him personally and his family, resorts to thigs like singing folk music, pouring his thoughts into intense journal entries, and manically riding his bike, that he has removed the brakes from, through traffic as coping mechanisms. The show goes into espionage, ethics, and the personal sacrifices he makes in service to his country. It’s a crazy mix of humor and drama that offers a unique perspective, on the spy genre.
In one-episode Tavner must break into a building, for an operation, to do complete the task, he needs to climb 5 fences that are wired with electricity. One of his friends is concerned about the daunting task and asks him how he is going to climb the 5 fences, he responds that he is only concerned with climbing 3 of the fences. He then says a line that stuck with me ever since, "If you can reach halfway and take one more step forward it becomes harder to turn back than to push through till the end; so why not just finish?"
Wow, how often do we struggle to complete a task, to question the validity of finishing, when the hard part is done, the job has begun, and it is much easier to see it through. It is human nature to put things off, to procrastinate and to make excuses, often the hardest part is getting started. Or, as Mary Poppins sings in “A Spoonful of Sugar, "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and snap, the job's a game!"
I have used Tavner’s philosophy on myself many times since hearing it. On my walks when I’m thinking about work or something else that I could be doing and am contemplating cutting it short, one more step. When I procrastinate writing my “Just Thinking” story, I tell myself, just start, as Aristotle said, “well begun is halfway done” and if you are halfway, why not finish.
There is also the satisfaction that comes with completing a task and the pride that comes with a job well done.
Let me know what you think.
