I DON'T!
There is so much that I have learned in life and the MOST important thing is to never give up! I have been in so many struggles in my life...growing up not having a lot, living in a small town in Minnesota in the country. My dad is my hero because he stuck it through a really hard battle, he NEVER gave up and I NEVER gave up on him. He is and amazing (papa) dad! Just never give up on anything, you can do it!!! Always remember to keep peace and love in the heart!

Not yet. Strangely enough I have probably thought about this question more than most. Having had a chronic pain disorder nicknamed the 'suicide disease' for 10 years the temptation to give up is ever present...but somehow it makes me gracious for what I do have....
The answer is not yet.

I give up when not giving up becomes impractical. When not giving up doesn't benefit me or anyone else, it is time to give up. Accepting failure and weakness is a step toward maturity and a step toward self acceptance. To never give up means you have to control the outcome of everything in your life, and that is foolishness.
When I gave up being "perfect" I gain contentment.
When I gave up control, stress left too.
When I gave up looking at the past, I began to smile more at the future.
When I gave up having to be right, I learned a whole lot I didn't really know.
When I gave up having it all, I had all I wanted.
When I gave up, I found me.

At first I immediately thought that I never do give up. I am pretty tenacious and when I want something I go after it. But after further reflection I think you give up when the cost is higher than the reward.

I've pondered on the question, "When do you give up?", and the more I think about my approach to life, I can only answer that question in one way, when I lose my faith. I do not use the word "Faith" in the "organized religion" sense, I feel my spirituality is something unique to my individuality and my interpretations of the world around and within me. But in this case, it simply and profoundly means my faith in the future, in possibilities, in the belief that humanity can overcome its barriers and become one, caring, and global culture. Faith that life is worth living, despite how much tragedy is scattered amongst the beauty. So for me the question is better asked as, "When do you lose your faith?" I hope the answer to that question is "never".

I have given up on many things but I guess they were things that didn't mean all that much to me. I didn't give up on my marraige, I didn't give up, don't laugh or roll your eyes, on my dog who was the most difficult dog on the planet. But what mostly comes to mind when I go to answer that phrase is I have not given up on myself. I have suffered from major depression since I was a teen. I am now 55. Medication keeps it at bay but I am moody and it's there, not to far away always. I have been suicidal too many times...once is one time too many actually...Each time I have to convince myself not to give up. I argue for my self worth and get angry at that part of me that is pulling me down. As I have gotten older I realize that it's an illness talking and that I am very much ok. When I was 18 that wasn't so clear but I fought back and will continue to do so as long as I have the energy. I cannot discount the support of loving family and friends and family. I am not sure where I would be without them.

Over the past seven years, I have watched my mother's health both mentally and physically deteriorate for an unknown reason. We kept taking her to the hospital and the doctor's could never figure out what was wrong with her. It seemed from the outside that she had given up on life. I on the other hand - never gave up on her. I always thought she would get better and turn around an be mom again. I didn't give up till she breathed her last breath and her heart stopped beating - she was only 50. So I ask myself - will I always be resilient and never give up, or as I age will the world and pain of life within me slowly overtake me till I fade away? I guess I believe that I'll give up when my heart gives out - either physically or mentally.

Though we should give up - we are only capable of giving up for minutes (or hours) at a time. The main source is our son's failure to grow up, be responsible and stay out of trouble, so we can maybe finally relax and retire.

When I've done the same thing over & over & over & over again without achieving the results I was looking for - it's time to give up.

Garrison Kielder answered it last week on the show. Don't recall the details. His character was struggling. Did not want to quit. We are taught not to quit - don't give up, push through adversity. Hang in there...and if he had quit, he would realize - nobody cares, nobody remembers. Nobody cares and that's not bad. On a personal note I wish I had given up a marriage years before it ended. I wish I had given up a job years before I left it. In and of themselves 'marriage' and 'work' are not bad things, but they can be. I stayed at both for good reasons. Our emotions are to help direct us. If we can listen and hear within the commotion. It all takes a little time. We learn to cut and run, or discern when to not get in it in the first place.

My latest story is pretty simple. I am a musician and I have a performance this weekend with a band I have been rehearsing with for a short time. This is the band's second time out and I had agreed to do some backup vocals to support the guitarist as this is a 3 piece band and we need as much fill as we possibly can have. So .... our last rehearsal before the event and we tighten up over 10 new songs, as we picked this show up because someone else canceled. I leave fairly satisfied and commit myself to bringing my microphone to get the job done. The next morning I wake up and as is normal, for me, I begin to think about the show. I think about how songs start, how they end and uh oh better find that microphone that I haven't seen in some time. I search the house almost frantically until it occurs to me that this thing just isn't showing up in the normal places. I look in the "abnormal" places - nope - no dice. Finally I decide that it is the grown up thing to to to contact the band leader and tell the story. Ecchhh I hate to lose or misplace things anyway and the band was looking forward to having some additional vocal support so i am really hating this part. I had given up. I was observing how the whole situation was making me feel about my whole day and I said "naw". Besides that there was no where literally for me to look. I sent off the message and let out a sigh indicating that I had given up, but at least I could get on with the rest of my busy day. I tend to function in a pretty linear fashion sometimes especially if I lose something that is expensive to replace. I moved over to my bed where I that was strewn with my preparations including,clothes, gear bag, guitars, etc. when one last time I said to myself this is impossible and ran my hands along the lining of my well used gig back (actually an old Microsoft backpack) when I felt a strange heaviness, something I hadn't felt earlier. WHAT, in the lining of the back (somewhere I hadn't checked) was the microphone I had used a lot of energy to find! So what was the lesson for me? I think it was really more of using my communication, although nobody likes to give the bad news about something to do with work. It was typing that text message AND continuing my ongoing journey of learning not to let things take my energy so easily.

I used to never give up. Why would I? I had it all, my health, a great family, a loving husband, 2 beautiful kids.
Cliche perhaps, but the truth in my own little world. I looked forward to every day and moment with everyone in my life.

Then, one day, without notice, I gave up.
I gave up on myself, life, friends, and for a brief and honest moment, my children.
After watching my dad die a slow and unimaginable death, my perspective changed.
I no longer looked through the eyes of someone with hope or peace. I was now angry, confused, paralyzed with pain, and empty.
For the past 30 years I invested most of my emotions into my father, he was my hero.
No, he was not perfect, but in my eyes he could do no wrong. His voice could make the worst of days better, and the simple touch of his hand would make any pain go away.

After some reflection and time, (he passed 10 months ago), my heart is starting to tell me to move on with life. Yet, sometimes my body doesn't respond and it gives up on me even if my mind is telling it to go....to take those needed steps towards today. Someday I know they will work in harmony.

I will not give up on finding my own path, to not dwell on what I had evolved into over the years and cannot untangle.
I do give up on happy endings, there are none.
I will try to regain hope in finding peace.
I realized that my future depends on me not giving up, if that is only for the sake of my children.
I accept that, and with a vulnerable soul say that I will be fine.

I give up in times of weakness, and in times of clarity.
Without giving up, there would be no challenge to pick myself back up and find what life is worth living for.
I am glad I gave up, and know that I will continue to give up every now and then...even if only for a moment.
It challenges me, and helps me grow closer to myself.