Failure Leads to Extraordinary Achievements

Any respectable goal includes hurdles and obstructions.  It’s rare that a linear expressway takes us to our goals. 

In the story, “The Opportunity Buggy” from my latest book, Covered, a preteen girl, Helen, has an audacious goal, to be independent and live well, as she rolls outside in her wheelchair, having lost the use of her legs in a car accident. But she tips over, scraping her arm, frustrated by the failure. The family’s feisty housekeeper, Mrs. Ludwig comes to her rescue.

“I hate that chair. I hate it,” Helen screamed. She was crying now. “It’s ugly and I’m sick of it, sick of being stuck in a wheel chair, sick of being a cripple!”

“Miss Helen, sounds like your attitude, more than your situation, is what needs helpin” [Mrs. Ludwig said]

Mrs Ludwig helped Helen sit up.

“Now you listen to me, Miss Helen, it ain’t your wheelchair’s got you trapped, it’s your thinkin’ that’s got you trapped.”

Helen held her sore arm. “I can’t even go outside by myself without falling down and getting hurt,” she said, whimpering.

“Guess we gonna have to work on fallin’ so’s you can learn how to git up.”

Obstacles shape us, make us wiser, kinder and more compassionate. Overcoming mountains teach us how to survive, molding valleys and failures into extraordinary achievements. Read Covered and learn the rest of Helen's story.

Creative Vulnerability

Yesterday, I started a new project. One barrier after another jumped up to block me. I felt vulnerable, but kept going. Perhaps I should have given it more preparation, but it seems, no matter how carefully we plan, there are usually some “flies in the ointment.”

By the time the 11:00 news came on last night, I felt the weight of failure.

My critical self talk yammered away, “Who told you you were creative…compared to what?” “Just who do you think you are anyway?”  “The lighting wasn’t good, your lips moved, your staging sucked, you popped the sounds on the letter “P.” You recorded five minutes, before realizing the mic wasn’t turned on, you tripped on the cord and pulled over the camera. Why do you even try? Just forget it. You’re old. You’re no good!”

Vulnerability leaves us defenseless, open and stripped of our armor. It's in this position that we die or show great courage. And the payoff is that we don’t die. We evolve into a deeper humanity with understanding. Somehow, not only do we survive, we rise up with courage and renewed creativity.

Vulnerability TED speaker, Brene Brown said, "Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage!" Dr. Brene Brown’s talk “Listening to Shame”. is well worth your time.

This morning I looked at yesterday's video project with my husband, Ken, who told me he thought it was good. I saw some creative moments. The project is not perfect, but there are a number of wonderful spontaneous flowing moments.  Today, my artist self says, “It accomplishes more than expected. Let it be.”

It’s Only Friday but…

If you are going through a particularly tough time right now, don’t give up. Where there’s breath there’s hope, where there’s a pulse there’s a purpose. Don’t stop.

Ask yourself, “What is the worst case scenario? And what can I do to improve it?” Once you figure that out, do it. And ask yourself, “What can I live with, and what would I regret?” then do what you can to minimize regret.

Surviving the harshest times of my life, did not come from positive thinkers or motivational speeches. It came from survival techniques of simply getting out of bed, putting one foot in front of the other, getting through one moment at a time. That was it. That was how I survived.

Yes, we do cause our own pain by some of our choices. But there are other forces beyond our control, choices other people make, circumstances beyond our authority that knock us down and try to crush us. But don’t quit. Never quit! Get back up. Keep getting up. “It’s only Friday.  Sunday’s a-comin’.” – Don Buck P Creacy sermon. (Friday refers to the day Jesus died and Sunday, the day he came alive from the dead.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB2en_C4KGk&feature=related

Easter is more than bunnies and eggs, it’s the kiss of life. Remember, “Sunday’s a-comin’.” Hang onto hope.

Spring Cleaning

Schedules are messy, desires are messy, rooms and relationship are also messy. And we think that it's our purpose in life to shake it out and clean it up.

Seriously, what would happen if you did not clean it up, did not get into the middle of changing a relationship and let it go?

Sometimes a "mess" is only our opinion of it.

Besides, you may find more time and energy for other things.

(descretion required)

Clean Up

Tricky Business

Am I the only one who is getting hesitant about on-line buying from businesses that tack on additional products, or make getting to check out a nightmare by having to click “no” to page after page of other product items?

Today I ended up with an order of unwanted, mailing labels. These businesses have very tricky ways of lulling you into clicking “no thanks” and then suddenly they throw you a curve and there’s a check “Yes” if you want to skip it.

If businesses allow such sleazy tactics, they’re hurting themselves. Make me, your customer feel tricked or foolish, and you’ve lost my business.