gumption

I have to admit when I read this word I think of this:

Yes, an old man with dentures.

"Anyone who has gumption knows what it is, and anyone who hasn't can never know what it is. So there is no need of defining it."~ L.M. Montgomery.

“I like the word ‘gumption’ because it’s so homely and so forlorn and so out of style it looks as if it needs a friend and isn’t likely to reject anyone who comes along... A person filled with gumption doesn’t sit around dissipating and stewing about things. He’s at the front of the train of his own awareness, watching to see what’s up the track and meeting it when it comes. That’s gumption. If you’re going to [try some new endeavor], an adequate supply of gumption is the first and most important tool. If you haven’t got that you might as well gather up all the other tools and put them away, because they won’t do you any good.”~ Robert M. Pirsig

It's one of those things I for sure could use more of. I have it, but selectively. If I have to do it, then I'll have gumption for it. If it's amusing/ fun/ adventurous, then I'm more likely to have gumption for it. I'm not one of those people that have it so much though that I'm motivated to homeschool my kids (kudos to you who do it.) I wish I had that much gumption, but it's just meh to me. I value my time not buried in children (especially my children). I need that break. That sounds terrible I'm sure. But man parenting is hard work.