Sunday, June 29, 2014

Failure Is Not an Option

First, a bit of humor on a Sunday afternoon. Here's a comment from a (not really) reader:

It's a рity you don't have a donate button! I'd most certainly donate to tҺis brilliant blog! I suppose for now i'll sеttle for boօk-markіng and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. Ӏ look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

Hеre is my webpage ... {link to Anonymous's website or may I say spamsite}


Those of you who have blogs receive this kind of comment all the time. Me, too. In fact, before I write a blog post, I look through my previous posts' comments to make sure that none of the spam comments were actually posted. I've had to remove a few, but it's just another time sink.

And now for what's on my mind today.

Failure is not an option.

I'm a failure as a blogger. How did I get sucked into this belief? I've been pondering my lack of blog posts. I've written about a hundred posts, in my mind only. These past months have been a season of changes for me. I'm still immersed in some of them. How much do YOU like change? Me: not as much as I thought!

Lately I've been pondering this "failure is not an option" idea. I want to understand it.

A few of the opposite beliefs; we've all heard/read them:

  • Fall down seven times; get up eight.
  • Try, try, try again.
  • We learn more from our failures than our successes.
  • A million more.

Going back, way back, my first memory of school, I remember it as clearly as if it were last week. I was in second grade. The teacher was writing words on the blackboard and asking the class to read them out loud.

I was already pretty good with words, so I raised my hand and read "antique", pronouncing it as an' tee cue. Of course the teacher corrected me, an teek'. I felt mortified. My face was beet red, tears filled my eyes. I wanted to disappear. Really disappear.

That's a pretty strong reaction, isn't it? Strong enough that I remember it more than 50 years later. I don't know which is the failure: the misplaced confidence in my ability to pronounce a word OR that my mistake had such a strong effect on me. Anyway, maybe my fearing failure, avoiding failure, goes back that far. Maybe not.

So today is the day that I'm going to turn this one upside down.
  • Failure is great.
  • Failure is a gift.
  • Failure is a blessing.
  • In fact, I welcome it.

Failure means I'm learning. Growing. Improving. Alive. Doing something. Living a life.

So there, failure, come on over. I've got room for you right here.

Blessings and peace...

4 comments:

  1. I have some of those same feelings about "failure" - especially as a child. I was always the pleaser, the one who wanted to things right ALL.THE.TIME. Alas as I grew and matured, I realized that I was expecting more of myself than others were expecting. Afterall, my parents were just asking me to do the best that I could - not perfection. I've since just tried to accept my failures, mistakes and learn from them. So, good for you for turning this failure thing upside down! You go girl!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Linda, Yup, expecting more of myself than of others. Sometimes knowing where in the past ideas and beliefs come from help me to move forward. Because then I can question them in a specific, rational, grown-up way. I'm always happy to see a note from you!

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  2. I agree with you and Linda. I believe we are raised to "try our" best, and we put more pressue on ourselves. We need to realize that sometimes, things just don't work out and thats ok! Life is way to short....and you have made it this far....So you are doing a great job!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Remembering...OZ, Thanks for visiting and leaving your comment. It helps, really it does.

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In the "Comment as" drop-down box, you can choose Name/URL and then enter your name (first name is enough) and you don't have to include a URL. I have disabled comments from Anonymous because of too much sp@m. Please let me know if you have any questions about this; thanks. You know I want to make it as easy as possible to hear from you!