Friday, June 6, 2008

thE PoiNT is ThiS

They say persistence and perseverance pay off. But sometimes, they don’t. Sometimes, you need to take a few steps back before you can move forward. Sometimes, you have to fall a couple of times before you learn to be steady on your feet. Sometimes, you need to endure the depths of despair before you value the sanctity of your joy.

Nobody likes failure. It makes you look stupid. Especially when you try to fight for a chance that already belongs to someone else. I don’t like failure. I don’t like to look stupid. I am wary of sticking my neck out, in case it gets hacked off.

When I got back my disastrous Honours dissertation, they said not to take it badly because that wouldn’t be the most important piece of work I will write in my life. But at that point in my life, it was the most important thing to me. When my boss decided to let my colleague run the project instead of me, she said not to worry there will be other opportunities. But at that time, it was the only opportunity I had that I worked hard for. When my ballet teacher decided not to let me stand in front, he said the scholarship students have the obligation to be on stage and perform for the school. But the performance is supposed to be by adult ballet beginners, so I don’t see why they put in the professional dancers with us.

I sound petty, jealous, full of envy and anger. I am, I don’t deny that. Because sometimes I think, life has short-changed me. But then I think everyone feels cheated out of life at some point or other.

I should be glad that I at least have life, and that I am able to walk and walk and walk, till I reach journey’s end.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.

"What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors.

"We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" one of the brothers volunteered excitedly.

The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible. After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors. Then he said quietly and confidently, "Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!"

Their goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for - to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen; in other words, to set us to digging!

But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, "Yes, but look at what I found along the way! Look at the wonderful things which have come into my life because I tried to do something!"

This came into my mail and I tot it will inspire you, my friend.

dEliRiuM said...

Yes, indeed, the journey is as interesting as the destination. Thank you for sharing this story.