Getting back up again
I was listening to Radio 4's Desert Island Discs a day or two ago where celebrities choose the music they'd take with them if marooned on a desert island.
The interview this week was with David Davis MP. Whilst interesting, it was not his choice of music that kept my attention. Rather it was the story of his life - a literally 'rags to riches' tale. Overcoming many challenges to eventually become an MP he offered this piece of advice: "The shame is not in getting knocked down, it's in not getting back up again." Whatever your political persuasion, that's got to be good advice!
This approach to life's setbacks is widely held in America, where, for instance, it's common for companies to fail, sometimes several times, before they finally become a success - and this isn't looked on as a disaster. Far from it - it's almost a way of proving the company.
None of us can avoid life's ups and downs. For some those 'downs' can be very hard to deal with. Yet it's what we do with those down times that indicates our chances of fulfilment and happiness.
We can let the bad times knock us for six and leave us in a hole from which it's impossible to climb out. Or we can deal with the grief and sadness connected with the bad times and then pick ourselves up, and reach out once more to the world, probably stronger than before and more appreciative of the good times.
Many years ago, I suffered depression badly. A horrible experience and one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, it nevertheless left me with the feeling that I could empathise with others going through similarly difficult times, and that I am a stronger person because of it -both real blessings.
So next time we get knocked back (and we inevitably will), perhaps we can take stock, rebuild ourselves and get back up again to really live this wonderful life of ours.
The interview this week was with David Davis MP. Whilst interesting, it was not his choice of music that kept my attention. Rather it was the story of his life - a literally 'rags to riches' tale. Overcoming many challenges to eventually become an MP he offered this piece of advice: "The shame is not in getting knocked down, it's in not getting back up again." Whatever your political persuasion, that's got to be good advice!
This approach to life's setbacks is widely held in America, where, for instance, it's common for companies to fail, sometimes several times, before they finally become a success - and this isn't looked on as a disaster. Far from it - it's almost a way of proving the company.
None of us can avoid life's ups and downs. For some those 'downs' can be very hard to deal with. Yet it's what we do with those down times that indicates our chances of fulfilment and happiness.
We can let the bad times knock us for six and leave us in a hole from which it's impossible to climb out. Or we can deal with the grief and sadness connected with the bad times and then pick ourselves up, and reach out once more to the world, probably stronger than before and more appreciative of the good times.
Many years ago, I suffered depression badly. A horrible experience and one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, it nevertheless left me with the feeling that I could empathise with others going through similarly difficult times, and that I am a stronger person because of it -both real blessings.
So next time we get knocked back (and we inevitably will), perhaps we can take stock, rebuild ourselves and get back up again to really live this wonderful life of ours.
posted by Elizabeth Juffs at 11:59 AM
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