I would like to say thanks for all of your kind thoughts and words last week. It is not all writing related -- the funk was brought on by a scary diagnosis for an immediate family member, job issues and just plain being tired. I crawled under the covers, slept way too long, left the dishes in the sink for three days (then made the kiddos do them) and now feel much better.
Today I'm offering this Monday Musing:
"Keep these concepts in mind: You've failed many times, although you don't remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim. . . . Don't worry about failure. My suggestion to each of you: Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try." Sherman Finesilver
something about this quote resonated with me.
I guess it is the line, "Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try."
Here is my challenge to all of us this week:
give ourselves permission to try, fail and try again
see the flailing and failing as part of the learning process
and, most importantly,
worry about what you will miss if you don't even try
QUESTIONS: Are you willing? what is something you do well that took some time and effort to master? have you ever heard the quote by Eddie Cantor, "It takes 20 years to make an overnight success?" Why do we immediately forget that when we see others have success? Why do we assume it came easier to them?
and best wishes to all of you who are taking on NaNo this month...may the muse be with you!
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30 comments:
Hey Tess -
I've been behind on my blogging, so I missed most of last week. Hope things are going better!
There's not much in my life that I haven't had to work for. I'm a naturally gifted worrier, screamer, and crier :) But I have had many successes in my life, and I've had to work for all of them.
Thanks for reminding me. I've got another big challenge ahead of me now and that's the inspiration I need!
Awww...glad to hear things are starting to turn around. Even if it's just the attitude that's changing. I love the saying, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift." I think there's more, but I'd have to track down the notebook it's on to know for sure.
"Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try." I'm trying to embrace this philosophy. You see, I've always told myself that I can't draw worth a hill of beans so I never really applied myself to it. My brother got all the inborn artistic talent, I always told myself. (Which is partly true. He's pretty darned good without even trying.) But I've started wondering lately if I wasn't being too hard on myself. So, I'm taking a big giant leap of faith. I'm going back to school to study art and visual communications. I'll be taking drawing classes. I'll be working to see what I've missed out on because I didn't try. It's tough. I second-guess myself all the time. But I'm registered for the classes and school starts in January. And I couldn't be more thrilled with the direction that part of my life is taking at the moment.
I think something I do well is empathize. And it's an ability that, I think, doesn't come terribly naturally to people. My skills at empathy are born of hardship, trial, and tribulation, but they make me a stronger person.
Great post!
Love that quote. Makes me never want to miss a moment or a breath of a chance. I am BIG on the trying thing.
I am very good at showering. :D And failing. But because of both, I am a clean, determined woman! :D
~ Wendy
I can't believe you made the kids do the dishes. LOL!! Too funny. Poor kids!!
"worry about what you will miss . . ." - I think this goes along the lines of what you and I both think about taking time to smell the roses, enjoy a sunrise/sunset, a moment away from the hectic life. I sometimes fail at doing that because everything is so rush, rush, rush!!! I try not to fail at that, but . . .
Great post and excellent food for thought on a chill Monday morning! Glad you're back in the blogsphere!
S
I'm glad things are better for you. Dishes are good for the kids. I love your thoughts about that quote. I will be trying a lot this week. I'm focusing on rewrites.
Great quote!
I've failed at lots of things, but succeeded at so many, too. One of my friends says if you're not failing, then you're not doing much :)
That's a great quote and I'm happy to hear you're doing better.
Yesterday I tried something I thought I would fail at--something I told someone last week I would actually try if I knew I wouldn't fail. (Not writing related). And you know what? It turned out okay. It was actually fun and I'm really proud of myself.
Karin - ah, a big challenge? good luck! you will do great, I am certain.
Stephanie - so proud of you! how incredibly awesome that you are taking on this challenge and opportunity. if you have a mind to do it, it must be a little talent seed planted in you just waiting to be tended.
TabithaBird: I agree - as writers, we need to be big on the trying thing. immediate gratification is not part of our journey - ha
Wendy - you make me laugh, but I am smelling the soap and sensing the determination all the way from here ;)
Scott: yeah, they were good sports. And, you are right. I hadn't really thought about how this concept ties into the idea of paying attention and soaking life in, but it really does.
lotusgirl: rewrites can be fun...shredding and rebuilding fit right into this discussion. and, thanks for the well wishes.
SolvangSherrie: oh, I like that quote as well. And it is so true...all part of the journey
Cindy: Kudos! But, I'm so curious? was it a new recipe? a long run? trapeze work? Isn't it cool how trying new things can really invigorate us?
My four year old didn't want to go to school today because he doesn't want to have to "write" I told him if he stayed home and cleaned the house, I'd be happy to go for him, but maybe next time I'll share your quote instead :)
Hugs for you. That sometimes happens to me, and I then go on strike from the world for a night or more (however long I can get away with). The most important thing is to be ok, then tackle non-essential life tasks (including blogging).
Yup, I'm now learning that my goals in life might take a while to achieve, but I'm happy to wait.
Tess, I really enoyed your comment on Jody's post and thought I would stop by. You live in the Rocky mountains? You are living my dream.
I'll let my kids know they are not the only ones on the planet that do dishes.
Very nice post! I think that I do motherhood and marriage very well. Of course, like the clever quote you posted, I have had my share of forgotten failings along the way. But I am now at a point where others are asking advice and I actually have some semi-intelligent answers. Who would have thought??? I could not have arrived at this point unless I had tried and kept learning from the failures. Thanks for a thought provoking post.
I love this post. I've been thinking about it a lot. You can't win if you don't play.
Once, I went through the KFC drive-thru and asked for a two-piece dinner, both legs. The teenager inside the speaker box asked if I wanted a white- or dark-meat dinner. Says I, "Aren't legs always dark-meat?" Says the teenager, "I don't know, m'am. I'm still learning the chicken."
I'm sure by now, he's a chicken pro. ;)
Awesome quote, Tess! Glad that life is back into a groove again. It's during those particularly hard times of life that we have so much to learn.
So happy that you're feeling better. :)
Thanks for the inspiring quotes.
Corey: that is my dream...to make my children live one complete day in my life. Then they'd always be grateful and never complain about their single chore or two and say things like, "Yes mother, of course I'll help". Well...a girl can dream....
Yunaleska: what a perfect and refreshing attitude you share - thanks. I agree the best things are worth waiting for.
Ava: I love my friends who are so great at motherhood and am always stealing their ideas -- thanks so much for coming by.
Suzyhayze: exactly. no pain no gain and all that stuff, right?
Amy: girl, you win the comment prize today. thanks for that belly laugh. I needed it!
Jody: isn't that the truth. trial by fire -- the story of my life ;)
Thanks, Jennifer. It's good to feel a bit more like myself.
Glad to hear you're feeling better, Tess! We believe in you!
Tess, I'm sorry I missed your post last week. I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better, though! I hope everyone in your family is okay.
That's a great quote. I'll have to add it to my collection. Hope you are doing better this week.
I think it's so important like you said to keep that in mind when we see others succeed. Everyone started from somewhere.
Great post!
That quote came at just the right time for me today. Thank you!
I thought maybe I should have elaborated. It was playing my guitar in front of the entire church, to help lead worship. Ahhh!
I'm Nano-ing this month so I'm currently doing that thing where you try not to fail. It's been hard to shut up my internal editor but there's progress!
Excellent quotes, fantastic post, glad to see you're back!
LiLa: thanks pals!
Davin: thanks for the well wishes. Life is difficult sometimes, but we work through it bit by bit and use what we can to fuel our craft.
Patti: yes, much better, thanks :)
PJ: yes! and why do we forget that? I need to be better at reminding myself of these things.
MG: skelcome -- and, loved the carrote! pic :D
Cindy: thanks for coming back and letting me know. That is super, super cool that you did that.
LT: write-on!
Wonderful quote Tess. And I'm so glad things are looking better. I'll also be praying too. I know what it's like to have a family member's health questioned. If you need to talk, you know my email. I'll be there for you. :)
But you made them wash all those dishes? You're my HERO!
Good questions and excellent quote, Tess. I think we need to get on the phone and chat. I sure do miss talking to you, and I've some ups and downs come my way recently. It's a good question about the overnight successes. There is no such thing as an overnight hit.
We've missed you and hope things are going better for you and your sister.
I don't think anyone is really an overnight success. Whether it be writing, singing or managing McDonald's. You have to work hard to reach goals. I dont believe in luck...you make your own luck by the choices you make. I admit, I am not in control of everything, but I do make choices every momment of the day. One day the choices I make as a writer will hopefully bring me success.
Wonderful advice... and exactly what I'd been needing to hear lately!
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