Adversity makes you stronger -- Indirectly related to reefing.

[Rakie]

I felt this belonged here. Something I feel new people should internalize. This guy didn't keep reefs, but persistance cannot be denied.

• 1809: Born
• 1816: His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.
• 1818: His mother died.
• 1831: Failed in business.
• 1832: Ran for state legislature – lost.
• 1832: Also lost his job – wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.
• 1833: Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.
• 1834: Ran for state legislature again – won.
• 1835: Was engaged to be married, she died before marriage.
• 1836: Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.
• 1838: Sought to become speaker of the state legislature – defeated.
• 1840: Sought to become elector – defeated.
• 1843: Ran for Congress – lost.
• 1846: Ran for Congress again – this time he won – went to Washington and did a good job.
• 1848: Ran for re-election to Congress – lost.
• 1849: Sought the job of land officer in his home state – rejected.
• 1854: Ran for Senate of the United States – lost.
• 1856: Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention – got less than 100 votes.
• 1858: Ran for U.S. Senate again – again he lost.
• 1860: Elected 16th president of the United States -- Abraham Lincoln.

I've met a lot of people in this hobby who run into a problem and give up. When I run into a problem I say "Good, now I'll learn how to fix it".

You will make mistakes. You will have problems. You might even kill everything, or wake up to a totally dead tank. It might be your fault. It might be a malfunctioning piece of equipment.

Don't get discouraged -- This is chess, not checkers.