Summer Life Lessons - Number 1

Been away for the summer, toying with other venues for my creative dabbling. Now bored with those and back here on KISSimple because I have something to say.

I learned a couple life lessons over the summer and am committing them on virtual paper, here and now.

Lesson 1: You can't take responsibility for other people's destiny.

I've tried, especially for my children, it doesn't work. I state this sadly because I sincerely wish I could channel my energies and inflict a positive directional modification here and there. Advice just doesn't seem to be enough. This doesn't mean I've given up. Oh no! I just realize you can try and then must wait to see if that advice seeps in. If not, say a prayer and watch for the next learning opportunity. Not all my efforts have been motherly. I've endeavored to help co-workers who seem destined for failure, hoping to aid them in overcoming whatever issue blocks the sweet taste of success.

I know this sounds very self-serving and conceited. Perhaps. Truthfully, I'm writing this because a recent event could have been blissfully celebrated, but instead is mourned because someone didn't pay attention to an email invitation they received. My part was to help that person with their application. I continuously asked had they heard anything yet. No was always the answer. Finally, I made them go through their summer email blockage and there were several attempts to reach them. This really made me angry, until I realized how little this opportunity meant to them even though I think it was one of those scarce gifts. It became about me, not about helping them.

Now, that's conceited - even if I was right, it really doesn't matter. This is not my choice because it is not my life. It's hard to watch people appear to sabotage their chances, but who knows what true opportunities are around the bend for them -- ones that they might not see had they gone down the path I thought was best for them.

Hence, my having learned you cannot make people willingly go down a path they did not choose.