(Photo Contributed By Marlena Groomer)

1/8/15

“It’s worth recognizing that there is no such thing as an overnight success.  You will do well to cultivate the resources in yourself that bring you happiness outside of success or failure.  The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive.  At that time, we turn around and say, yes, this is obviously where I was going all along.  It’s a good idea to try to enjoy the scenery on the detours, because you’ll probably take a few.”

I have to thank Deb for sending me this and I know I’ve touched on this message before.  I’ve said before that how we see our goals is based on ideals of “perfection” while the end result may be “perfect” although quite different from our original expectations.  The important thing is to recognize that what is “perfect” is entirely acceptable since it is likely more valuable than our dreams of “perfection”, depending of course on the outcome.

I guess the obvious question is how do we know what’s perfect?  Excellent question and the simple answer is, it depends.  If you don’t think “too wrong”, you’ll just know!  Best advice is to not surrender to frustration, don’t instinctively retreat from a detour, and know that not moving around the detour or not moving at all will get you nowhere near what’s “perfect”.  That is unless you are gifted in the arts of denial or exaggeration.

For me, I’ve recognized what’s perfect through discovery and awareness of some things.  First, there is no better education than experience.  However being blind to the source of mistaken choices and repeating similar ones in the future reveals nothing but ignorance and irresponsibility.  Albert Einstein once said “A clever person solves a problem.  A wise person avoids it.”  So for you youngsters who think your parents are always telling you what to do, we’re really just recommending (sometimes emphatically) what you need to avoid because for the most part, you just don’t have enough personal experience to know better and “invincibility” is still an abstract possibility.

Another thing, obstacles, detours, and probably a few “close calls”, turned out to be well-served.  They revealed more about myself to recognize, understand, and appreciate how “perfect” my life has been and how much more it can be if classified and measured properly.  Sometimes by being consumed by my intended destination, I didn’t realize sometimes how misdirected I was in some of my earlier priorities.  Again that took experience, awareness, recognition, and reconfiguration of what really is meaningful and important to me.

I’m lucky to have the good fortune not to struggle with where I thought I would be at this stage of my life.  I just don’t because most of what I have I consider “perfect”, even with its imperfections.  It’s just funny to look back and wonder why I put so much emphasis on things that truly are no longer important to me.  I have more than enough of what I want and need, and I’m only aware of that from what was lost or almost taken along the way in exchange for what I’ve achieved to get to where I’m at today.  Have I ever mentioned I’ve had a great life!

Just remember every part of our journey means something and delivers to us more information about ourselves and our lives than the beginning or ending ever will.  Life should not consume us but reward us for our conviction, perseverance, and persistent optimism as we live each day.

I get up early these days because I’m curious to find out how “perfect” my day may turn out.  I’ve lately thought about this quote especially when it’s still dark out when I get up because it gives me peace and hope.  “For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” – Vincent Van Gogh.  Never much got his artwork but I can appreciate the artistry in these words. Hope you do too.