Lessons Learned

Failure is just a way for our lives to show us we're moving in the wrong direction, that we should try something different.
~Oprah Winfrey
I could write a long list of my so called failures in my life...a list that I'm pretty positive is still in the works...but I won't bore you with the sordid details. What I will tell you is what I have learned from some of those life experiences, as I would like to call them.
I have learned that without these things happening to me, I would never have learned some of the most important lessons in my life.
I've learned that when you are doing something that you absolutly hate doing, even though you sank a lot of money, time and energy into it....if you walk away from it, you'll be okay...in fact you will most likely be more than okay. Often times, things like this help you find out what you are really passionate about.
I've learned that sometimes when you think you have made the biggest mistake in your life, it ends up being the best thing that could have happened to you...one that would make you a much better person because of it.
Then of course there are things that happen that sometimes you really don't know why they happen...and you spend a great deal of time wondering what good could possibly come of it. If anything...it probably makes you a stronger person inside.
I read somewhere that failure holds no more power than we give it. A pretty powerful statement to say the least. I think if we take anything from our so called failures, it's to learn from them and take back the power and turn them into lessons learned...and not to dwell on them.
Maya Angelou said "You did then what you knew how to do, when you knew better...you did better" Take a lesson from that...you didn't fail...you only did what you knew how to do. Now go out and do better.
I think most of our fears don't come from fear of failure...it comes from fear of success. It's easy to keep doing what you are doing...because you know how to do it...it's safe. We might not be happy about how of life is...but it's comfortable, secure and familiar. Sort of puts it in a different perspective doesn't it?
well...that's about it in a nutshell...hope you can take something from it.

Sunday Scribblings

I think it was quite appropriate that my first Sunday Scribbling topic was Hospitals. I don't very often venture into them, but on Monday I made a very special trip to our province's Children's Hospital to visit some very special babies.
My good friend gave birth to triplets on October 14th, and I've been so excited to be able to go see them, and her. The drive to visit them is 2 1/2 hour long drive, so it's not something one can do every day.
I've been keeping in touch through a local website and Facebook, getting to see some pictures of them, but nothing prepares you for just how tiny they are until you come face to face with them.
First off, I have three children myself, but I spaced them out pretty good, I can not imagine having to deal with three all at once! If anyone can handle it, it's Shannon...the mom to these little miracles. She's dealt with all of the excitement, the stress of having to be on bed rest for the past two months and the ever changing development of having three babies living inside of her, with such grace and poise I admire her so much for that.
Delaney, the littlest of the three, weighing in at 1 pound 15 ounces is the strongest one of the three. When I came face to face with her, she was trying so hard to open her eyes. Her little fingers were pulling at her wires and trying to take her diaper off. So tiny, yet so full of life. Alannah, triplet "C" was having some complications the day I saw her, nothing serious, just comes with the territory of being so small and being born premature. She has since gone through and operation for her heart murmur and is doing good. Nicholas, the big brother to his two sisters, is quite a bit bigger than them too. He too has just had his operation for his heart and is doing okay too. They all have a lot of people praying for them, so I'm sure it is helping a lot.
It's so amazing that these three little babies were all inside one belly! It's going to be amazing to watch them grow and develop into individuals. Welcome to the world Alannah, Delaney and Nick! xoxo

The Pursuit of Happiness

Perhaps if one really knew when one was happy one would know the things that were necessary for one's life.
~Joanna Field

There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Have you ever felt like there is something missing from your life...yet you aren't quite sure what it is? People are always saying...do what makes you happy...the rest will follow. Are these people following this same mantra? It seems more than one of us is walking around wondering what exactly our purpose on the earth is for. Are we living our purpose...or is there more to it? How do you know if this is what you are supposed to be doing?
This year...my goal is to pursue happiness.
It seems most of us...or women at least...spend all their time trying to make everyone around them happy....that they often forget what makes themselves happy. I think I've fallen into this category. I've forgot what it is that truly makes me happy. Does it make me selfish that I want to be happy....I often think it does.
Don't get me wrong...I'm very grateful for everything I have. But being grateful and happy I think are two different things...yet they also go hand in hand. Go figure.
I've discovered a lot of little things that make me happy....yet in order to really enjoy these things, it seems I have to give up other things. How is this fair? Is that how life works?
A friend of mine (well...more than one) keeps telling me I deserve to be happy. Doesn't everyone? Don't think I'm living in this life of despair...I'm not. But something is missing, I can't deny that. I think I just have to stop feeling guilty for wanting to be happy.
So in my pursuit of happiness....I'm going to learn to savor the small things that bring me contentment. I'm going to laugh more. I'm going to become more aware of what truly makes me happy. I'm going to learn to appreciate each day as a new one to explore. The pursuit of happiness isn't a luxury....it's a right...isn't it?
Sarah Ban Breathnach writes that "the magic seeds of contentment are planted deep within us. Happiness that the world cannot take away only flourishes in the secret garden of our souls."
So, on my journey in the pursuit of happiness....I hope others will join me. If you haven't discovered what makes you happy, why not do it now? What are you waiting for?

It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth --- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up --- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.
~Elisabeth Kubler Ross