One Tiny Lesson at a Time....

“Those who live on hope, die of starvation”… not sure who to credit those thoughtful words to, but I saw it last night on a best friend’s Facebook status. It struck me on a personal level, and I assumed she posted it for me. Not so. And not so oddly, it seemed to be a quote that many related to.

The thing is, I’ve also used hope as my sustenance in life. Hasn’t really gotten me where I’d like to be, though it has absolutely gotten me through trial after life trial, which (my GOD) I am thankful for!

I guess, though, at some point, it is equally important to begin feeding my future with something more filling than hope alone. Hard work, sweat and tears are equally, if not more critical than the illusion and emotional umbrella that hope can offer. And most importantly is to feel the successes and failures that are occurring daily in every aspect of my life. Feel the pain, accept loss, realize and forgive myself for my mistakes. Otherwise, the lessons I am constantly encountering aren’t really teaching me what I need to learn, in order to figure out where I am going.

That path, very nearly always lonely, for certain a struggle, is mine alone to walk. It is, in fact, each of ours alone. We all chose our own lives. THAT is one lesson I’ve learned for sure! Once in a while, we encounter someone whose path seems so clear. Yet we can’t ever direct another person down one path or the next, no matter how strongly we wish we could. People we encounter along our personal journey are all just doing their best to find their own personal truths. They may touch us deeply, and play some role in the lessons we are learning. Yet, they too, are struggling with their own realizations.

Just as we are struggling to find success, love, happiness that fills us in magical ways, so too are others we meet along the way. But truly? The lessons that sink in for us may not be the same ones that others are learning. The key to survival is to live fearlessly, and be unafraid. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of judgement, fear of disappointment, or in disappointing others, are our biggest blockades in life. Climb over, dig through, go around…any which way…not getting stuck behind.