Tough Lessons

February 21, 2011
By

I know my journey is remarkable, as is yours.  We twist in this world together, and scramble on each other to find our place… the best seat.  I feel weak, like I may have lost my place. Parts of me dangle in the wind and my soul feels squeezed.  I pry my foot from my mouth but cannot fix my own missteps.  I know my failures, and it burns to have them poured upon my head.

“Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.” ~ William James

I travel the road to this place of acceptance, trying not to boil in the liquid I threw on the floor.  I have learned so many hard lessons recently.  Those who I thought would support me the most, have not – and those who I thought I could count on… were far from my reach. It hurts to be let down.  It hurts when those you open up to don’t take the time to know who you really are… then choose to let you go.

Part of any journey is battling the sticks and stones this world will inevitably give. There is adversity at every corner, from rejection to jealousy.  It takes strength pulled from the depths of my chest to not pick these moments apart – these people apart.

I break in pieces at your feet. I feel used and dismissed.  YOU are not just a person, but an act, a word, an organization, a building… a chance meeting on the street.  You are all of the things that make up my world. You are who I bend my back to accept, and you are who I beg to accept me.

“When you judge another you don’t define them, you define yourself.” ~Wayne Dyer

I turn my focus to those beautiful souls that have risen up and embraced me.  These wings of comfort span the space of all that I am.  While facing parts of life that have let me down, I am blessed with those I never expected to lift me up.

Tough lessons haunt our paths and we falter at walls – - stumble on bridges.  I am reminded that life always brings us another person, another opportunity, and another reason to keep going. Finding the strength to never give up can be the hardest thing to do, but also a path to finding the intrinsic solace we are all desperately in search of.

Jessica Kristie

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19 Responses to Tough Lessons

  1. dustus on February 21, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    “I pry my foot from my mouth but cannot fix my own missteps.” Quite a line. Finding the strength to never give up is the hardest thing; unbearable most times… intrinsic solace is worth it. So I’m told. Can relate to your post, especially the thoughts of failure.

    • Jessica on February 21, 2011 at 4:00 pm

      It is a road to get there. We just need to get there… some people spend their entire lives without peace. I don’t want to be that way. I am happy to realize I am not be alone. None of us are, even though it may feel that way sometimes. When you rise above – you see things you never saw before. Thank you for reading Dustus! ?

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  3. Thinkingtoohard on February 21, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    I’m currently stumbling on bridges. This is gorgeous, as usual :)

    • Jessica on February 21, 2011 at 5:18 pm

      Thank you sweetheart. :)

  4. Cab on February 21, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    There can be no growth without pain- without failure, no wisdom gained.

    :^)

    • Jessica on February 21, 2011 at 5:19 pm

      So true… so very true! Thank you Cab for your wise words.

  5. flutter on February 21, 2011 at 6:07 pm

    this is wonderful

    • Jessica on February 22, 2011 at 10:06 am

      Thank you sweetie. ?

  6. Wendryn on February 21, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    “I am reminded that life always brings us another person, another opportunity, and another reason to keep going.”

    Yup.

    You’ve got to hold on to the little bits of hope. Slogging through the hard parts is the only way to get to the good parts. I hope the road gets easier, though.

    • Jessica on February 22, 2011 at 10:07 am

      Thank goodness for those little bits! The road will get easier, it always does. Thank you for reading Wendryn! ?

  7. Julia on February 22, 2011 at 10:07 am

    Wow Jessica. That was phenomenal – truly. What a gift you have that the person reading your words can hugely relate to what you’re going through, yet those same words describing your struggles so perfectly resonate with the reader’s own struggles as well. Thanks for sharing! And big hug, too. :)

    • Jessica on February 22, 2011 at 10:17 am

      Thank you for the beautiful compliment Julia. I am so glad you were able to connect with my words. I so appreciate you reading!

  8. Anikkia Koester on February 22, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    Really enjoyed this post. Though sad, it was transparent, which is so lacking in this world. There are ups and downs in life. Rolling with what we are given, accepting what comes, and looking to the life altering lessons give purpose to life. Transformation is what it is all about and there is One behind it all orchestrating and conducting for my good. I find peace in that! Thanks for sharing your heart!

    • Jessica on February 22, 2011 at 12:23 pm

      Thank you for reading and commenting Nikka! Fun to see a familiar face (though the crab is no likeness to your real beauty!).

      You are so right in all that you said. There is comfort far beyond what this life gives. It is nice to know we don’t go it alone.

      Love you. ?

  9. Jurgen Nation on February 23, 2011 at 5:30 pm

    Jess, this is haunting and beautiful. As if your own prose weren’t gorgeous enough, this punches me in the stomach with its visceral truth: “‘When you judge another you don’t define them, you define yourself.’ ~Wayne Dyer”

    • Jessica on February 24, 2011 at 9:32 am

      That quote struck me too. It all was a great reminder for me. :) Thank you for reading beautiful lady!

  10. Crystal Marcos on February 23, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    This was beautiful and thought provoking. Thank you!

    • Jessica on February 24, 2011 at 9:32 am

      Thank you Crystal!

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