Reading “Self” magazine, I came across an article for a few books to inspire happiness. I haven’t gotten any of them yet, but the magazine stuck a quick bit next to the description of the book about how to make it work for you. One suggestion states: “Jot down the three most devastating failures or losses you’ve experienced. Next to each, list the corresponding lessons, wisdom and insights you’ve gained from surviving them.” Actually, three were hard to come up with, until I remembered that this could have been at any point in my life, not just now. It’s funny how when we truly get over a loss or failure, we really don’t consider it part of our lives anymore, but it shapes us regardless.
Loss: My Dad. Lessons/wisdom/insights: Life is precious and relationships are fragile. Traumatic events can happen at any time in my life, and will. Building myself to be strong in my everyday life will help me to be strong for these unseen events. I learned that my true friends and family will drop everything and be there for me when I truly need them, and I’m never alone. Life is too short to spend any amount of time being unhappy. Despite tragic events, my life is exactly what I choose it to be. While things may happen to me outside my control, I control what I do about them, how I react to them and how I want my life to grow. Always take time to nourish the soul. And lastly, everyone is human.
Failure: Current job position. Lessons/wisdom/insights: Blind leaps are just that: don’t expect a bowl of cherries from jumping into an unknown situation. Results from my actions can be downright hideous, but I never know until I give it a try. Great friendships can be found absolutely anywhere. I cannot live in cold snowy climates. I love the city. I’m strong/brave enough to venture off on my own into unknown territory. I think I need to be a Hotshot. When I trip or fall in life (or down the stairs) it’s just another marker to laugh at or reminisce about later in life.
Loss: A love. Lessons/wisdom/insights: Hindsight truly is 20/20. Sometimes following my gut feeling is smarter than following my heart. No one has the right to disrespect me. I’m so much better off on my own than with some one who isn’t right for me. Never leave a freshly drawn bath to attend to “more important matters”: more important matters can wait, soothing my soul cannot. And clarity can come from that same hot bath: taking time to pause can prevent further disasters.
No comments:
Post a Comment