Fails

The hardest thing about having to do paramedic school twice was having to go back through the same program, with the same instructors, and face everyone who was following my progress through the program. 

Although I am embarrassed to admit it now.  One of my first thoughts was that I would take the course again from a different program.  I thought I could take some time before entering another program.   There were a lot of great reasons to give for flunking out.  I was doing too much and working full time etc.   A new program or place would not change who I was, it would be less embarrassing because of all of the new faces.  Most people keep embarrassing fails alive just by virtue not letting them die their natural quick death.

My epic fail turned into a great story of perseverance and success.  People remembered the guts it took to move forward and stand tall during all of that.  Epic fail turned into the epic success.    

When people asked me about it, I simply told them I flunked out of the course and I did not offer an excuse for that.  It was what it was, I failed in my attempt.  The fundamental truth about failures is that they only become problems when you carry them around or try to explain them at great length.  They are meant to be learned from and discarded.  The second time around I was a lot smarter about my time management. 

All of those great sayings about failures are very, very, true.  Failure is the fundamental building block of all great things.  In career, personal relationships, and everything that is worth a damn. 

If you tripped on a rock and fell on your face you would not carry the rock around until you figured it out.  You look down, and go ahhh and walk away.  Do not carry rocks, leave them on the ground where they belong.  Carrying an armload of rocks will always weigh you down and be difficult to explain. 

In my personal life, every woman whom I knew before mom (the good, bad, and ugly) helped prepare me so what when we finally met I was able to see her and she was able to see me.  24 years this year..