How to eat an elephant
A few years ago I went camping with a friend of mine. It was a cool Thursday afternoon in Florida. I had packed my gear, firewood, and food, and drove out to Princess Place Preserve.
As I started unloading firewood from the back of my SUV—it was blocking the rest of my equipment—I noticed the sky turning dark. The wind picked up, and the temperature dropped. I thought, This could get ugly fast. So I got the firewood out quickly.
The air dropped another few degrees, and the wind changed direction. I had a 10’ x 20’ tarp and some 550 cord in the back of my Durango. I knew if I didn’t keep the firewood dry, this trip was going to turn into a cold, miserable mess. So I built a quick A-frame shelter. Just as I was driving the last stakes into the ground, the sky opened up.
I managed to grab a folding chair before the rain really came down. Sitting under that tarp, listening to the downpour, I had a choice to make: give up and go home, or stick it out. Anyone who knows me knows what I chose.
I stayed.
I stayed because I like a challenge. I wanted to see what I was made of. You never really know your limits until you bump up against them. If I had packed up and left, I would’ve lost the money for the campsite—and worse, I would’ve walked away from the chance to prove something to myself.
Don’t get me wrong, quitting crossed my mind more than once. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror if I bailed just because things got tough.
About an hour later, my friend showed up. He joined me under the tarp, and we talked through our options. With a little encouragement, he decided to stay too.
The rain finally eased up around 8 p.m.—just enough for us to throw up a tent. It took a few rounds of diving for shelter between gusts of rain, but we got it done. Starting a fire with damp wood wasn’t easy, but we made it work. Once the tent was up, the fire was lit, and we had food in our bellies, we changed into dry clothes. The rain let up for good around 11:30 that night.
We sat by that small but stubborn fire, lit a couple cigars, and let it sink in: we did it. Not a trophy or a ribbon, but a win all the same. That night, we slept well, the rain tapping gently on the tent like a lullaby.
The next morning, we woke to a cloudless sky and a cold breeze. The rain was gone. The next two days were calm, beautiful, and exactly what we had hoped for.
So why am I telling you this?
Because it taught me something. Every obstacle is a chance to grow. Every challenge is a test—not just of strength, but of will. And pushing through discomfort, doubt, and inconvenience? That’s where growth lives.
There’s an old proverb:
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
You don’t have to conquer the whole mountain at once. You just have to take one step. Then another. Then another. Eventually, you’ll find yourself on the other side of the storm, stronger and more grounded than before.
A Challenge for You:
What’s one thing in your life right now that feels too big to handle?
Don’t try to fix the whole thing today. Just take one step. One bite. Maybe it’s a phone call. Maybe it’s showing up. Maybe it’s choosing not to quit.
Whatever it is—do it. And see what happens when you choose to stay.
