A setback is nothing but a comeback in disguise … that gave me a little umph to push it over the hill. Even with a crappy 60 days close to the end of my 365-day tour around the sun I still managed to have at least one positive moment each month.
It’s difficult to see the positive when the current existence seems so crappy, but in the moments between your breaths you find something that pulls you out. A good-time-noodle-salad moment, an Andy Dufresne moment, a silver-linings playbook moment, a Zen-moment, or a Gatorade-moment.
Looking back on it I was 12 for 12. 12 months 12 new experiences. I was grateful to have tried new adventures. It helped me step out of the box and create new perspectives for growth, change, and hope. But more importantly it didn’t feel forced. It was opportunity. And at the end of it, I was different each time. Not a dramatic shift, because making cake pops for the first time isn’t mind-blowing, but it does give you a better understanding of the show Nailed It and how I too can do that at home.
Trying new adventures created a shift. As I stumbled through life and weaved through the cracks of this cobble-stoned yellow-brick road, which I thought would be smoother, I learned that these new adventures pushed me along the path. Sometimes when you’re at the bottom learning a new skill gives you a sense of pride that’s waning. Now I’m not saying these new adventures were easy and I was picking up all kinds of new skills. Taking a coding class and learning to speak Italian was extremely challenging, still is, but it added stock to my life.
It pushed me to keep taking it one step at a time.
And sometimes that’s what you need because when you feel like you’re failing digging deep helps you stand up again. And what I was reminded of throughout this journey was that I am a Stumbler. And the stumbler doesn’t build her life by being better than everybody else, she does it by being better than she used to be. That’s me.
” … courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm … “
Churchill coined that one and I was glad to have heard it on a podcast because I was beginning to lose my giddy-up.
But I found it before it was too late. I had my Andy Dufresne moment. I found gratitude in new adventures. I hung on by finding gratitude in undiscovered talents. I was able to take a step again because I found gratitude in comeback stories.
So turning the corner before starting the new year was a blessing. I laced-up my running shoes after falling off the hurdle again, and again, and again, which incidentally happened in real life back in my youth, but currently unfolding metaphorically in life now.
But my point? I finished strong both times. Out of breath, with my hands on my head, looking at the skies above and a smile on my face. I reached up with my right hand, and there they were, my Dad and Uncle Erick high-fived me from the heavens on finishing the race.
Thank you Beth, Cayman, and Susie for checking in during the fall.
Happy New Year my friends!
And of course Buen Camino …
The Wish Factor 
Cali, you are a home run of a read every single time.
I love that opening line, I love that Churchill quote and I love this post. I have found myself in such not so good straits emotionally and I need to find good things every day. At least one. And I found your post this morning. And thank you for it.
Peace, sunshine and waves to you
Those are super kind words from a word magician like yourself but I’ll take them with a smile and thank you. That opening line came from somewhere in my brain… probably a mixture of all the Les Brown I hear to jumpstart my day and a little extra flavor on my part 🙂 plus Churchill always amazes me with his wisdom. He lights it up sometimes. But what I’m most glad to hear is that I was able to give you a moment today. Something extra to help lift you. Abrazos my friend. Sending you a Jack Tripper smile with sunshine and waves.
Word magician huh? I’ll take it! 😉
You bring a special brand of funk and slam dunk, so when you gots Les Brown riding shotgun? Watch out!
Yes, and thank you for that moment. Much. And thank you for the Jack Tripper smile too.
I’m glad for your being able to write this post. Sticking it out in the tough times isn’t easy. Finishing strong is even harder.
Yeah those were tough last couple of months but glad I was able to pick it up in December. Thanks for stopping by hope you’re having some good rides to start the New Year.
Tough times are great teachers and, as we weather each storm, we grow in so many ways. Delighted to see you are still writing and wish you a very happy and healthy new year! 🙂
Thanks so much! I saw your post for the New Year and it was super inspiring. Good to know you’re out there typing too. Have a good weekend 🙂