Think about sailing the open seas and being on the sea for weeks, months and years at a time with neither the land in sight nor the navigation systems to help guide the adventure. Christopher Columbus who discovered the New Land (The United States of America) began his travels under such conditions.
Everyone believed the world was flat, not Columbus. The experts of Spain concluded that Columbus’ plan to discover a new and shorter route to the Indies was virtually impossible.
Columbus’ great part of the time was passed in almost hopeless solicitation, amidst poverty, neglect and taunting ridicule; the prime of his life had wasted away in the struggle, and when his perseverance was finally crowned with success, he was in about his fifty-sixth year.
With three voyages behind him and age finally catching up with him, Columbus in his late 50s, was suffering from arthritis and opthalmia. He and his men had to face lots of adversities on their voyages. Diseases spread in the ship; people were sea sick and the food was getting old. They ran out of drinking water. However with “I can make it happen” attitude Columbus persisted.
If Columbus had turned back, no one could have blamed him, considering the constant adversity he faced. Of course, no one would have remembered him either! And America would have had to wait longer to be discovered!
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