The maneuver of throwing a ring into a lake turned out to be an error. Those who have read the “sixteen habits” of intelligent behavior will note there are also sections on “Managing Impulsivity” and “Thinking Flexibly”. My girlfriend was not happy. I flew back to California – alone.
This is where the “Persistence” behavior mattered. I could not concentrate on my studies. I went to the Dean and obtained permission to withdraw from law school and return the next semester. I consulted with my family and friends. Nearly everyone counseled me not to withdraw from school and not to go back to London.
Six days later, without telling anyone, I was back in London. I knocked on her door. One of her roommates opened the door and said nothing as she motioned my girlfriend to the door. She was of course surprised, but smiled and said, “Yes, I will marry you.”