The renewing power of a challenge

In his book, "A Touch of Wonder", Arthur Gordon talks about self-renewal:

In the South, when a lady reaches a certain age and a certain eminence, she begins once more to be called by her first name with a Miss in front of it, a title laden with affection, pride, and respect. And often that pride is more than justified, because when you look back at the history of the town and ask yourself who started the symphony or spearheaded the drive for the new hospital or got rid of the courthouse gang, chances are the name that comes to mind will be a feminine one with a Miss in front of it.

That's why I went to see Miss Caroline.

"Good heavens, child," said Miss Caroline briskly when I asked her about self-renewal. "It's just the old law of challenge and response, isn't it? When you meet a challenge, something in you will respond. It's as simple as that."

"A lot of people don't find is so simple."

"That's because they refuse the challenges. I started out that way myself -- afraid to get involved, afraid I might do things wrong, afraid of what people might say if I made mistakes.

"But then the time comes when you see something that needs doing so badly that you're shamed into putting one toe in, and suddenly, miraculously, you find that you do have the energy or persistence or stubbornness or whatever it takes to get the job done.

"This is so exciting, the sense of accomplishment so satisfying, that when the next challenge comes along you accept it. And the magic process starts all over again. A formula for self-renewal? Find something that needs to be done and start doing it."