Success and Failure: A Love Story

"The secret to success is the constancy of purpose"

- Benjamin Disraeli 

I love this quote because it reminds me to stop thinking (my default mode), dig in and get the good work done.

Good work is thoughtful, meaningful, sustainable and inspiring.  It's not easy and is risky because it is transformative (change is scary). It's the synthesis of working smart and hard and with purpose.  The results are not ordinary.  They take a lot of thought, patience and determination.  It's very much like being an effective

I've decided to do the good work right here in my blog.  In addition to writing about Raising Adolescents, I've decided to address three fundamental and daily hurdles:

1.  Write everyday

2.  Reconcile my money issues

3.  Improve my fitness

Before this turns into an Oprah blog, let me be clear, I'll steer clear of the emotional baggage that comes with these midlife (Stuck in the Middle Life With You?!) issues.

The parallel I draw between my motivation and my kids'(students and offspring alike) is not a stretch.  Life long learning is an ongoing phenomena and not just a catch phrase for mission statements .  Adolescents and middle age and on and on are ripe with opportunities to learn and grow as a result.  In fact, I was recently told that I was acting like a teenager...

Success, indeed, requires purpose and a daily commitment.  Good, bad or ugly, I'm going to write about what I know and what it is that I need to grow.  

"Success Breeds Success"

- Mia Hamm

And, when I am successful I will be encouraged to soar higher.  I'll take more chances as a result.  Isn't this how our kids work as well?

Uh, what about Icarus?"

"Fail often so you can succeed sooner."

- Tom Kelley

Failure is essential for growth.  We forget, avoid and cover that up (denial, selective attention, Absolut Amnesia) but we can't really learn if we don't hit the edges.  When we hit the edges, we will fall off, occasionally.

I never hear this anymore:

"If at first you don't succeed, try try again."

It seemed as though this was the Go To remark by any adult looking to encourage, redirect or guide me toward success when I was a kid.  Are we still saying this to kids?  If so, it's good advice for adults as well.  

Still...

If we're not saying it to kids is it because they're not taking developmentally and necessary risks in order to learn better and faster?  Is our kids' world too programmed and safe?  There are blessings in skinned knees, after all.

And, what about us old folks?  Are we too old to receive an encouraging "try try again"?  Or, for that matter, are we too old to try new things?

I've decided to take a risk by reflecting, somewhat publicly, on a few sticking points, musings and plain old wonders. The intent is to get it out of my head so that I can make sense of it.  In turn, I expect that I will better understand, not only myself, but also my children at home and school.  If I strike a chord with my readers then that's great as well. 

"Do the things you know and you shall learn the truth you need to know"

- Louisa May Alcott