Comments on: Life’s a…..(fill in the blank)

By: Liz Talley

Liz Talley — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:15:02 +0000

Mari –

You make a good point. My husband is much the same. Not having as much growing up made him hungry and molded him into the man he is today. Neither of his parents graduated from high school and they were basic working class people who lived in a used singe wide on the outskirts of town. He was never given anything and had to earn it himself. He never made excuses and never whined about life being unfair. He just moved ahead.

It’s a pretty good lesson – learning to deal. So many people don’t do that well. They turn to other things – blaming others, alcohol, bad relationships to get away from disappointment.

I’m glad you’re satisfied with the way things turned out. You are a testament to taking lemons and making lemonade.

By: Mari

Mari — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:58:39 +0000

At the risk of sounding like a Pollyanna, I honestly thinking everything happens for a reason. Once I accepted that premise life got a lot easier and it put successes and what appeared to be failures in perspective.
I don’t think we were put on this earth to live in a feathered nest and never leave its safety. I do not expect to have everything I ever wanted immediately upon leaving my mother’s womb. Would it be “easier” yes, but I would have missed out on the ride of life.
It’s as if instead of riding a roller coaster I just went to the bottom because that’s where I’d be eventually when the ride is over, you know? Part of the joy is experiencing “the ride”.
When I look at the people in life who have always had things “easy” like Paris Hilton, Brandon Davis, Anatasia Onassis, Charles Walgreen, etc I would not for the world trade places with them. So many of those that grew up in affluence couldn’t handle normal life and threw their gifts away.
It those moments when we don’t get what we want that we grow. At least I do. Every supposed failure is a chance for to me to learn.
Recently the company I worked for downsized and I was laid off.
But, instead of getting upset I had a glass of wine. Then I got an even better offer that paid better and I’m 100% happier.
Even with guys that I dated that I was sure were “the one”…at the time I was devastated—but if they hadn’t have left I wouldn’t be with the wonderful man I anm with today.
As a child, I was teased and put down by my parents constantly while my brother was coddled and spoiled…but now he’s the one that’s at home with them with no prospects and I am the one that is thriving with a home and business of my own.
LIFE IS GOOD!

By: Liz Talley

Liz Talley — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:38:09 +0000

Ah, Cyndi. Yes, Arkansas was definitely a recipiant of the bad calls. Personal foul penatly especially. And you may be right about the Arky/LSU game, our guys were pretty banged up by Bama. But I don’t think you are. Geaux, Tigers!

As to the rejections, yep, never get used to them. They really suck. You go ahead and get on the bike. I’ll eat some chips and hot sauce and drink a marguerita. I can’t think of anything worse than exercise. Hmmmm…maybe a root canal? LOL

By: Liz Talley

Liz Talley — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:34:06 +0000

Oh, yes, Jane. Silly movies help us get over a lot. I like Anchor Man and Old School. I know he’s just plain ludicrous, but Will Ferrell cracks me up.

By: Liz Talley

Liz Talley — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:32:51 +0000

I like that song, too, Keri. Of course, I like just about anything by Garth Brooks. He hit big when I was in college….ah…like was good then. Chief concern – studying for tests and finding the cheapest beer.

By: ArkansasCyndi

ArkansasCyndi — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:29:20 +0000

You know Liz, LSU/GA had the same incredibly awful refs that my beloved HOGS had when we played those cheatin’ FL Gators! I do understand the glass and what’s crazier is that actually NOTHING we do (cheer, dress appropriately, etc) is gonna help you win later this month (GO HOGS! BEAT THE TIGERS [the day after Thanksgiving])

I’m sorry about your boy. I do understand. My sister got to go to Girls’ State (it’s a political thing here in AR). I didn’t even get asked! On the other hand, I was a debutant and she didn’t get asked. It makes no rhyme or reason to me.

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to rejections…even when I expect them (and worse…when I KNOW it should have been rejected)

What I do when I disappointed has to change. I used to eat. I can’t do that anymore. TOO hard to lose the weight. Don’t really drink anymore either. So, I think 30 minutes on the bike would be the way to go.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:53:36 +0000

I hate that feeling. I usually treat myself eating my favorite foods and watching some of my favorite comedies like Old School and Dodge Ball.

By: Keri Ford

Keri Ford — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:38:34 +0000

One of my favorite songs on this subject is Unanswered Prayers by Garth Brooks.

The video on it (haven’t seen that in a LONG time) is just wonderful.

By: Liz Talley

Liz Talley — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:27:46 +0000

I believe that too, Keri. Everything happens for a reason and we don’t always understand it. Or maybe it doesn’t happen for a reason, sometimes, and we still don’t understand it.

But, whatever happens, you can control what you think about it and how you address it. We, as writers, are going to get rejections, bruising critiques and battered egos, but how we handle them truly defines who we are.

By: Keri Ford

Keri Ford — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:22:09 +0000

Liz, you ask the hard questions that make me think. *g*

A cause of the “why me”. Um. Probably not too surprisingly, I dont’ do much of the ‘why me’ stuff. Yeah, sometimes something gets me down, but since it’s not something I do a lot of, I’m over it pretty quick.

someone who I don’t think writes well sells? thoughts like, maybe it was just me? I hope she doesn’t get slammed in reviews.

I guess it’s because I’m a pretty firm believer in everything happens for a reason. Today’s rejection could mean tomorrow’s break through. (case in point, see Carina Press and Angela James heading that up.)