In these times of economic upheaval and uncertainty, it helps to remember that stress and troubles are hardly new phenomena. And where there has been stress in the past, there has also been perseverance and optimism. We would be well served to follow the examples of those who have gone before us and not only survived but thrived during difficult periods of time, either economically or in their own personal lives.

That’s where Joseph Marshall’s book Keep Going comes in. The small, 131-page soft cover is easy to carry along and pull out for a pick-me-up during crucial times. The author, Joseph Marshall III, is a Sicangu Lakota. He was born and raised on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation where he has worked as both a teacher and an educational and health programs administrator. He was also one of the founders and a charter board member of the Sinte Gleska University.

Keep Going is a story of a young man whose father has died. He turns to his grandfather for solace and finds comfort as they sit together under a cottonwood tree, listening to his grandfather’s perspective on life, the perseverance it requires, and the pleasure and pain of the journey. The Lakota are said to have a vision that transcends the ages, and Marshall is a natural storyteller who successfully captures the beliefs, values, and wisdom that has sustained his people for so many generations.

Marshall was raised by his grandfather, and the thought-provoking lessons recorded here are the same ones that got him through his own life’s challenges and journeys. His grandfather’s dialogue, stories, and recollections now bring comfort and inspiration to all.

Each section of this book focuses on a portion of Marshall’s prose poem, also titled Keep Going, and provides commentary on the text. Knowledge and strength seep through these words as a powerful tool in our everyday lives. Today, Marshall writes and teaches seminars on management and leadership (including a course based on the leadership principles of Crazy Horse), as well as speaking to audiences around the world in countries like France, Sweden, and Siberia.

For those of us going through difficult times, Grandfather says this: “Being strong means taking one more step toward the top of the hill, no matter how weary you may be. It means letting the tears flow through the grief. It means to keep looking for the answer, though the darkness of despair is all around you. Being strong means to cling to hope for one more heartbeat, one more sunrise. Each step, no matter how difficult, is one more step closer to the top of the hill. To keep hope alive for one more heartbeat at a time leads to the light of the next sunrise, and the promise of a new day.”

It is important to remember that in this world there will always be another hill to climb. And we will always have it in us to one day tell about the breathtaking view from the top.

To learn more about the author Joseph Marshall III, visit his website at www.thunderdreamers.com