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I don't like the word "failure" but there have been many times in my life when I've felt like one. If you've read the skinny latte story, I'm sure you can guess that there have been many dark nights of the soul in my journey. A lot of them have been in recent history too! Writing a book will do that to you :)
But I like to think I'm getting better at handling the falling down moments. Life is not perfect, it never has been or will be, but dwelling on things I can't change, on moments, conversations and chances that have been and gone, on things I have said and done that have been less than perfect, and outcomes that were not ideal but that were just the way things worked out, does not aid the situation, does not lift my mood, and does not get me anywhere. It keeps me lying there, flat on the floor.
Making mistakes, taking wrong turns, screwing up royally - we've all been there. But where I know I personally have gone wrong over the years is dwelling on it. Refusing to get up and move the hell on. Sometimes for years on end. What an absolute waste of time, energy and precious, precious life. Much as I'd like to shake the younger me sometimes, I think the present me needs a shake for still worrying about some of these things and allowing them to hold her back.
Until or unless I somehow perfect my time machine (!), all of it is done and cannot be undone. The choice is mine to wallow and torture myself, or to get up and focus on what lies ahead which is absolutely within my grasp to shape and design and influence in a positive way. And, at the end of the day, I keep reminding myself that everything that has happened in my life - royal screw ups, bad decisions and all the rest - has lead me to right here, right now, which I wouldn't change for all the world and for which my gratitude is boundless.
Falling down is a part of life. But when you fall, don't stay down there. If you didn't get it wrong sometimes how would you know if you were doing it right? Remember, where you are right now is not indicative of where you will be in the future. You do not have to be determined by your past, or by your fears, or by the thoughts that hold you back, or by anyone else's expectations. Fly free, and live the life you have always wanted. You have a choice. Get up and keep going :)
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What is Monday Mantra?
I love inspirational quotes and about seven years ago, when I had no motivation, no direction and no idea how to make my life what I wanted it to be, I read something that changed everything. It was a small quote in a magazine, from the Australian marathon runner Pat Farmer. He said “if you really want to do something, in your heart of hearts, you will find a way. But if you don’t really want to do something, you will always find an excuse.”
It was so fantastic….and made so much sense. It became my mantra. It still is.
Now, through my various trawls through the internet, I see many things that catch my eye and fire me up, and I want to share these with you. So I put them all together and post one a week. Something that I think is worth sharing, something that I think is good to be reminded of. Something that might just be for you what that Pat Farmer quote was for me.