You Pick

You get to pick how you are defined.

This is as straight forward and as simple as it gets and it is the hardest thing to do for yourself.  Most people are not wired that way, we are driven by conventional wisdom that we learn when we enroll, join, or participate in organized groups of people.  Conventional wisdom demands an full accounting for a failing to meet a goal or expectation.  Driven people are the worst.  Failures demand a pound of flesh (even if it is their own).

We all try to examine and dissect these failures at a level of detail that is not needed or warranted.  Most often the simplest explanation is the right one - Occam's razor.  People tend to not be satisfied with simple answers and will carry complex examinations of failures around for an indeterminate amount of time.  We love to carry our crosses.

You get to pick how you are defined -the good-the bad-the ugly.

In late October of this year, I failed to complete a physical agility test in the prescribed time for a FD that I was testing with.   I was so sure I was going to complete it that I arranged a victory breakfast with my family.  Failure, a big one and I found myself doing what I should not be doing.  I examined every aspect of what was to me a massive failure.  I was heartbroken and intended to punish myself.  I had constructed a massive cross which I was intending to carry around.  The simple truth is that I had a significant injury to my knee that I did not take care of.  I went to the doctor, took care of it and within 2 weeks passed a more stringent physical agility test.  Occam's razor, no magic. 

I get to define myself here.  It is a great story of guts and perseverance.  It is a definition that people readily accept because I believe it and it is the simple truth. 

So, go back this year and find what you think are your epic failures.  There is a simple, straight forward explanation for them.  There is also a complex, detailed examination for them and a heavy cross to bear.  Note: You can carry multiple crosses at one time.  Make sure you ask yourself how epic your failure was.  Rough rule of thumb is that if it is not defined as breaking the law in a municipal, state, federal jurisdiction, it may not be as bad as you think.

The beauty of it is that you can choose here.  Accept the simple explanation and leave your heavy cross at the door.   Take that epic failure and make a specific decision on how it is going to define you. 

You get to pick how you are defined. 

I will repost sincere belief...it goes hand in hand here.

Love Dad