Getting Over It

"My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure." Abraham Lincoln

Like all people, I am a combination of my genetic makeup, my upbringing, circumstances beyond my control, and my own choices. We are all dealt a hand in life, and we don't get to pick the cards. But we all get to decide how we play the hand that we are dealt.

I know some folks who live in the past. Something bad happened; it doesn't really matter how it came to pass or even what it was. At that point, their lives just sort of stopped. Oh, they continue to exist, but they really don't live anymore. They can recount the awful thing that took place in vivid detail and with raw emotion. To hear them talk, it might have happened yesterday instead of being ancient history. They aren't happy people, and they aren't fun to be around. It is almost like they have become content with their failure. Maybe it's an excuse that covers a multitude of sins, a blanket reason to not move on and flourish and grow.

One such person I know was told that she needed to "get over it." She was quite offended, but you know, her friend spoke the truth. Maybe it was a poor choice of words, but we do need to process, learn, take responsibility, and move on. That isn't the same as pretending it never happened, or being oblivious to the scars you might carry. But at some point we do need to get over it. This can require the help of a professional. I am a great believer in seeking therapy and counseling. But for that to work, you have to be prepared to hear and then heed the advice given. Not an easy thing to do, but the great things in life don't often come easily or quickly.

How sad to live in the past, when today is such a beautiful day.

Susan