| |
| |
|
Holidays Information |
|
|
|
The Gift of Failure
During this Thanksgiving holiday, we are reminded to reflect on the bounty in our lives. Most of us have jobs, family, a place we call home and food on the table, and for these things and our ability to obtain them we should be grateful. But what about those who are struggling with financial difficulties, bad relationships, or employment problems? Do they owe any thanks for their circumstances? Can failure really be a gift in disguise? FAILURES TEACH US ABOUT PROCESS Thomas Edison tried over 9,000 designs before he created a working light bulb. A young reporter asked him how he felt after having failed 9,000 times. Edison replied, "I didn't fail - I just learned 9,000 ways not to make a light bulb." Failure is often a clue to redirect our efforts in a different direction, and to follow a different set of plans. How many times have we learned how not to sell a product, how not to get a new job, or how not to judge a future mate? If a series of failures leads us to open our minds to new knowledge or information, or gives us the willingness to try different behaviors, then we haven't failed, we've learned how to create different results. FAILURES TEACH US ABOUT OURSELVES During the '40s, a young Jewish boy chose to forego academia in order to pursue his dream of becoming another Benny Goodman. Against his parents' wishes, he began playing in a jazz band. His musical talents were less than sterling, and soon he realized he was just another musician teetering on the brink of unemployment. Unlike many of his fellow musicians, he was able to manage the income he had, so those periods of unemployment weren't nearly as devastating for him as they were for others. His musical colleagues recognized his talent for money management, and soon they had hired him to manage their finances - for a fee. This caused the young man to rethink his career goals, and changed the course of his life. This failure's name is Alan Greenspan, Federal Reserve Chairman, who has been credited with performing an economic impossibility - sustaining long term economic growth without stimulating inflation. His failure taught him that money, rather than music, was his forté, and we have all benefitted from that epiphany. There is a saying that to teach a snake his shape, put him in a box. Our failures can be the box that teaches us our shape, and helps us to ascertain how our talents, personality, and learning ability coalesce to form the unique creation we are, and help us to fulfill our destiny and purpose. FAILURES CAN HELP PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE "Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it." How many times have we pursued a goal we thought was important, only to find it didn't bring us the rewards we expected? Have we succeeded or failed in our attempt? Billionaire J. Paul Getty blew through five wives and is alienated from his childreen. Is he a success or a failure? Our failures highlight our values, and help us to define what is important in our lives. The man who puts family first will probably not have a skyrocketing career, but can certainly be a successful husband and father. The woman who thrives on a high-powered career requiring 80+ hour weeks will undoubtedly be a financial success, but may have to forego success in the relationship department. One truism in life is that we can have everything we want in life, just not all at the same time. Our failures may help us choose in what area we would like to have success so we can focus our time, effort and energy on that area, and we happily let the rest go to the sidelines. One of the greatest gifts of failure is the knowledge that failure is never final, unless we choose to give up. Discovering that we can turn our lives around, choose a different path, or embrace a new idea at any age or in any set of circumstances is liberating for the soul, can motivate us to seek the wisdom and experience of others who have had different experiences, and can provide the momentum we need to propel us to successes beyond our imaginings. About The Author Jean Fritz is a farmer and freelance writer. Her company, JMT Publications, offers editorial, proofreading, and copywriting services on contract to individuals and companies requiring excellence in written communication. She can be reached via e-mail or through her website: http://jmtpubs.tripod.com. This article may be reproduced either in print or electronically without obtaining permission and without remuneration, as long as proper author credit is given.
MORE RESOURCES:
holidays - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
A Harvest Halloween To take advantage of the last days of autumn, we planned an outdoor Halloween party at our family farm. This gave us an opportunity to bring our friends together in an informal setting before the hectic holiday season. Top 50 Christmas Quotations "Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years. Magical Plants of Christmas Most of the plants we associate with the holiday season are from Europe or the Mediterranean. We know the holly, ivy, mistletoe, christmas rose, rosemary, hawthorn, bay and of course, evergreens while the New World is represented in Christmas legend by the poinsettia. 10 Holiday Sober Savers 2004 1.) BEGIN NOW !!!Don't save your shopping, decorating, cooking, wrapping, and cleaning for the last minute. Christmas Gift Guide Christmas is a magical time of year, both for kids and adults. They say that the joy of Christmas is the giving, not the receiving of gifts and the look of happiness on someones face once they've opened their perfect Christmas gift is indeed a wonderful sight. Importance of Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is the most important holiday of the year.Oh, sure, Christmas is grand, and I know it has many, many fans. Are You Going To Survive The Holidays? Admit it! You promised this year was not going to be like the last few.. 10 Tips for More Meaningful Holidays No matter how many lists you make, cards you send, gifts you buy, or packages you wrap, there will be things you intended to do this holiday season that won't get done. If you do manage to get everything done, but you're too tired to enjoy the season, everyone suffers. Three Steps to Reduce Holiday Stress for Your Kitty The annual holidays can be a very stressful time for your cat. This is the time of the year when that strange tree goes up, bright trinkets are hung (but all your cat hears is "No, no, bad kitty!" when she tries to explore them), delicious food is prepared (cats need not apply to eat it!), and lots of strange people come tramping into the house. Nicely Designed Pillows As Gifts Many of us are probably squeezing out our brains to the limit just for a single purpose, to think of what to give especially when it's Christmas or just a simple birthday present. It's always nice to give the jewelries, toys, clothes and shoes as we all had been used to of what to give. Christmas Tree Topper Ornaments From my childhood memories, pride of place on the top of Christmas tree always went to a fairy dressed in white. Or was it an angel? No, I'm sure it was the Christmas fairy; and she was usually last to go on the tree apart from the tinsel. Holiday Health: Give Get-Fit Gifts 'Tis the season to celebrate -- and a time to eat! Most of us gain a few pounds during the holiday season. With family dinners, holiday parties and gift baskets loaded with goodies, who thinks of staying fit?Instead of giving a pyramid of chocolate, a basket of tempting treats or a bottle of bubbly this year, why not be different? Give your loved ones a Holiday Health Kit to start out the New Year right. Find Your Favorite Swashbuckling Pirate Costume! "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!" If you have seen the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, you'll remember this song! Now you're looking for a great pirate costume?well, you've come to the right place! Transform yourself into a famous swashbuckling pirate on Halloween night, and become the life of the party!This is your night to go all out! Become the character in all senses-walk, talk, and look the role! You can practice on your pirate speak, but now it's time to get your pirate accessories taken care of.On this site, you can find a wide variety of pirate costumes and accessories! Get your eyepatch, your wig, your vest, a hat or a bandana, a hook, a sword, everything your heart desires to create the perfect buccaneer look! And don't forget the earring, or the parrot on your shoulder!Complete your pirate theme! The best thing about being a pirate for Halloween is that you can play the part of a friendly or evil pirate. Celebrating Fathers On Father's Day, we celebrate the guys in our lives. Not just our dads and the fathers to our children, but all the men who have made a positive impact on a child's life. Top Ten Tips To A Terrific Valentine's Day - For Women in Relationships So Valentine's Day is upon us yet again, and most of us want to be wooed and romanced by the one that we love. Hopefully that will be the case, but either way, here are some suggestions for how you can do your part to make this day a special day for you and your guy:1. Halloween & Hounds Halloween is "fright night" for humans not dogs. Screaming, running, spooky children in masks make many dogs uncomfortable, nervous and frightened. 7 Tips on Giving Chocolates to Your Valentine Every year millions of people exchange chocolates on February 14th for Valentine's Day. This trend has grown very popular in recent times, especially with the rise of quality chocolates (. Gift Giving During Thanksgiving Adds That Special Touch Many of us believe Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays, right? Actually, one of the most notable occasions is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is surprisingly a widely celebrated holiday that crosses over many nationalities and religions. Halloween Safety Tips Halloween is an exciting night for children and a busy time for their parents. With such excitement, it's easy for children to forget basic safety rules. Mothers Day Love Letter - The Best Way to Express Your Gratitude and Appreciation for Mom! Abraham Lincoln said - "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother"Wow! That is a worthy compliment to give mom this Mother's Day!Mothers are the source of our beginning and are always there for us, whether we realize it or not. Could that be one of the reasons why most of us take our mothers for granted?We just expect her to be there.
|
| Article List | Index | Site Map |
|
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved. |
