As Life Rolls On and we get caught up in the day to day grind, do you ever wonder where you would be or what you would be doing if you were assured you would not fail? As I stood waiting for a cup of coffee, I found myself browsing the shelves of coffee paraphernalia that line the otherwise empty walls of a crowded coffee shop. Indiviual coffee makers, fancy tea steepers, a plethora of travel mugs, and of course, the pièce de résistance - quotable coffee mugs.
It is to one of these important pieces of Americana that I owe the inspiration to today's thoughts.
"Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something" - Frederick Smith, Founder of FedEx
What would you be if you did not fear failure?
Would you be a professional athlete, a rock star, or an award winning actor enjoying all that celebrity provides? Would you be a politician doing what you think is best for the public well being or an activist challenging the policy makers? Would you be a teacher, a musician, an artist or a world traveler without a care?
Unfortunately the challenges of everyday life don't always afford us the ability to fail. We have families that rely upon us to be active participants in their lives and to foster their dreams, to provide income for the mortgage and schooling expenses and to put food on the table. There is too much at stake to risk.
Or is there? While we may not be able to quit our jobs and start anew, does that mean we've actually fell victim to the fear of failure? For those of us that are blessed with the challenge of being a parent face failure everyday. Our children look to us for guidance, encouragement, education, boundaries, inspiration, love and every other trait that molds them into the people they will grow up to be.
So, maybe we won't sell the house and travel the South Pacific to surf uncrowded breaks. Maybe we won't quit our jobs and establish a restaurant on the beach. Maybe we won't move to wine country and open a bed and breakfast or buy a winery.
Does that mean we've fallen victim to the fear of failure? I think not. I believe we've overcome our fear of failure and have chosen to dedicate our lives to raising a family despite the numerous opportunities to fail in the rearing of children.
Wood
Six short years ago I embarked on this journey called marriage, but the story of course started many years before. It started similar to many others: a slow methodical courtship (not to be misconstrued as boring) gradually progressing to the altar. At that time I recognized that I was a bit slow to 'pull the trigger' and make the ultimate commitment, but with the benefit of time, I now know that the timing and progression of our relationship needed that four and a half years.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to witness my friend's nuptials - an enjoyable mixture of a modern wedding infused with long standing Asian tradition. This event, falling on the eve of my own six year wedding anniversary, caused me to reflect back fondly on my wife's wedding day (I'm smart enough to know that day was for and about her; I was merely a prop in the play), the six years we've been married, and more importantly, to look ahead toward the future.
Looking back on those years it hit me that day after day, without much fanfare or any moments of epiphony, my feelings for the woman that looked me in the eye and said "I do" grow every day. Of course we have our moments, who doesn't? Life would be dull if we didn't. But for every one of those moments, which are few and far between, there are countless others that remind me how lucky I am and how life for me is pretty darn good, and bound to get better.
Obviously nobody can predict the future, but a little over two years ago, I met my contribution to it and promptly accepted responsibility to prepare my daughter for her role in shaping it. What I didn't expect though, was that I would learn more than I teach, and love more than I thought possible. I'm experiencing that the view of the world from the perspective of a two year old is: new and exciting but sometimes scary; challenging, but most often fun; and in the case of our child - full of love and admiration from the world around her, not just her parents.
As I embark on my seventh year of marriage, I look forward to loving another and no longer worry that I don't have the capacity to love them all.
Why wood? I admit to not knowing the traditional answer, so I'll create my own. Day after day, year after year, a tree slowly grows. You can't really see it getting bigger and stronger each day, but over time there is no mistaking its growth and presence.
Afforded the perspective of six years, I think wood is the perfect substance to symbolize my marriage.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to witness my friend's nuptials - an enjoyable mixture of a modern wedding infused with long standing Asian tradition. This event, falling on the eve of my own six year wedding anniversary, caused me to reflect back fondly on my wife's wedding day (I'm smart enough to know that day was for and about her; I was merely a prop in the play), the six years we've been married, and more importantly, to look ahead toward the future.
Looking back on those years it hit me that day after day, without much fanfare or any moments of epiphony, my feelings for the woman that looked me in the eye and said "I do" grow every day. Of course we have our moments, who doesn't? Life would be dull if we didn't. But for every one of those moments, which are few and far between, there are countless others that remind me how lucky I am and how life for me is pretty darn good, and bound to get better.
Obviously nobody can predict the future, but a little over two years ago, I met my contribution to it and promptly accepted responsibility to prepare my daughter for her role in shaping it. What I didn't expect though, was that I would learn more than I teach, and love more than I thought possible. I'm experiencing that the view of the world from the perspective of a two year old is: new and exciting but sometimes scary; challenging, but most often fun; and in the case of our child - full of love and admiration from the world around her, not just her parents.
As I embark on my seventh year of marriage, I look forward to loving another and no longer worry that I don't have the capacity to love them all.
Why wood? I admit to not knowing the traditional answer, so I'll create my own. Day after day, year after year, a tree slowly grows. You can't really see it getting bigger and stronger each day, but over time there is no mistaking its growth and presence.
Afforded the perspective of six years, I think wood is the perfect substance to symbolize my marriage.
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