Did you know that the word diligence also refers to a stagecoach? It is short for the French carosse de diligence. A diligence was a large, four-wheeled, closed French stagecoach that was often used for long journeys. It was popular in both France and England in the 18th and 19th centuries. (Curious to learn more? – check out this article.)
We have all been on a long journey and our “stagecoach” has arrived at the end of 2020. It is a new year! As we hope that 2021 will bring the return of some of the pre-COVID normalcy that we all miss, it is going to take some time. We are going to need to continue to be diligent.
So what is diligence (other than a fancy mode of transportation)?
SLOCA defines diligence as:
Committing to doing tasks with excellence and persevering with determination and patience to complete tasks in spite of difficulties and discouragement.
Catch Phrase: Do your best; don’t give up!
As we head into this new year, whether you are making goals and resolutions or just taking it one day at a time, let’s strive to be a community that is known for our stick-to-itiveness. Don’t give up!
Forging Diligence:
Use the questions below for personal reflection and to help start discussions within your family to encourage this month’s character trait.
- Discuss/contemplate the SLOLCA definition of diligence. Maybe focus on the meaning of the words commitment, perseverance, and determination.
- Why is diligence an important character trait? Imagine a world where no one ever followed through.
- Why should you commit to doing tasks with excellence? Are there times when just finishing is enough?
- What are some tasks that you have to do every day? Do you do them with diligence?
- What is the hardest thing you have to do these days?
- When you think about giving up, what keeps you going?
- Think of a character from a book that demonstrated perseverance and diligence. What did they do when they faced difficulties or discouragement?
- How did 2020 challenge you to be more diligent?
- “Do your best!” – Is everyone’s best the same?
- Encourage your students to make some goals for the new year. What are some areas where they want to be more diligent?
- Discuss this Benjamin Franklin quote, “Diligence is the mother of good luck.”
- Have fun with this comparison – How is diligence like a stagecoach?
