The first day of Spring is always a good day for me, if for no other reason than the days are getting longer and seemingly brighter and the air is getting warmer. Like many first days, this one didn't start out too well. I woke at 5a.m. to be a guest blogger and because of a glitch that fell through. My daughter then handed me a scholarship essay she completed last night, when she found it by chance. It was actually due last week on the 15th but the school was still accepting requests on a non-priority basis. After much hair pulling and some angst we got the forms completed, essay checked and she's on her way to deliver it as I type. Then my husband called and informed me that his biggest project in years is now "on hold" until a new piece of land can be found since the wetland issue is worse than first assumed. (Please send good thoughts out to the Universe that 40 acres of suitable industrial land can be found soon and my husband's project is "back on")
That's the bad news.
The good news is I'm writing anyway. My daughter is still on her quest for a full-boat scholarship. My husband is contacting commercial realtors and sending out inquiries, and I decided to do my own blog and actually attempt to promote it. So I guess the first day of Spring, as always, is turning out to be a pretty good day. What is your hope for this Spring and how do you turn obstacles into opportunities for something even better? I'd love to hear your stories.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Six times down, Seven times Up.
I am writing this blog today more for the practice, this is my first time, than for the content. That said, the content is vitally important to everyone who ever has or ever will succeed in one's given endeavors, no matter where on the path we find ourselves. The journey really is the point. Destinations keep changing.
This is clear in martial arts practice where a true practitioner screws up (think Jackie Chan out-takes) and must jump back up and figure it out. Then it's on to the next mistake and we fix that too, and so on, etc. Nothing like falling on your tail, or getting the wind knocked out of you to keep the ego in check and the hands up protecting while you edge your way in for your attack.
This concept may be easier for those of us used to making mistakes, shrugging it off (hopefully after we learn from it) and moving on to the next step on the path. This is especially true for writers who constantly, no matter how successful, face rejection and uncertainty. We get so used to hearing "Not Interested", "No, Thank You" or my personal favorite, "Love the Story. Writing's Great. We just can't sell it. Send me the Next One". Yea. Right. Good wine, soft cheese, chocolate, bubble bath, a good cry and then get up tomorrow and start something new.
This works for me most of the time. Sometimes the rejection is more acute and brushing it off takes days. When this happens I'm lucky. I get to go to the dojo, surrounded by people I respect and trust and have not only an affinity for, but, a deep and abiding loyalty and then I get to punch and kick at them until I can barely suck air into my raw, burning lungs. Something about this soothes my savage beast and puts everything back into perspective. The planets align and I can once again breathe without being heart-sick.
In our dojo you get knocked down six times, you get up seven. It's the best way to roll with the punches I know. How about you? In this time of rampant greed and unprecedented hardship for middle America, what helps you get back up when you stumble?
Hope I get better at this blogging thing. Stay tuned and find out. Happy Journey and Keep on Getting back Up.
Leigh
This is clear in martial arts practice where a true practitioner screws up (think Jackie Chan out-takes) and must jump back up and figure it out. Then it's on to the next mistake and we fix that too, and so on, etc. Nothing like falling on your tail, or getting the wind knocked out of you to keep the ego in check and the hands up protecting while you edge your way in for your attack.
This concept may be easier for those of us used to making mistakes, shrugging it off (hopefully after we learn from it) and moving on to the next step on the path. This is especially true for writers who constantly, no matter how successful, face rejection and uncertainty. We get so used to hearing "Not Interested", "No, Thank You" or my personal favorite, "Love the Story. Writing's Great. We just can't sell it. Send me the Next One". Yea. Right. Good wine, soft cheese, chocolate, bubble bath, a good cry and then get up tomorrow and start something new.
This works for me most of the time. Sometimes the rejection is more acute and brushing it off takes days. When this happens I'm lucky. I get to go to the dojo, surrounded by people I respect and trust and have not only an affinity for, but, a deep and abiding loyalty and then I get to punch and kick at them until I can barely suck air into my raw, burning lungs. Something about this soothes my savage beast and puts everything back into perspective. The planets align and I can once again breathe without being heart-sick.
In our dojo you get knocked down six times, you get up seven. It's the best way to roll with the punches I know. How about you? In this time of rampant greed and unprecedented hardship for middle America, what helps you get back up when you stumble?
Hope I get better at this blogging thing. Stay tuned and find out. Happy Journey and Keep on Getting back Up.
Leigh
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