I’ve always had the ability to teach myself new things, in fact that in itself is something that I’m pretty good at. Obviously, teaching yourself to do something doesn’t always mean that it turns out to be something that you’re good at. A frustrating issue with teaching yourself a variety things is when you realize that you don’t necessarily excel in any one thing. Passion comes in when you are bound and determined to take up one of those things, or ideas and run with it. The drive is to take something and do it really well. Looking back at several of those things, I have come to grips with the knowledge that sometimes I hadn’t failed as badly as I had initially thought. Sometimes it was more a matter of timing and overall life in general.
So, what to do with that knowledge? A person could go back and pick one of those things, and simply try again. That does require either the want, or the passion to do so. It also means that it is important not to expect the previous experience as the only outcome. Instead, grab ahold of that drive and remember that today is a new day. Could you fail? Yes! Could you run into the same problems? Most likely. Could you decide that you don’t have the same passion or want that it takes? Yes. Could you end up having a physical restraint? Absolutely. Could you end up finding the drive and succeeding? Of course!
Over the course of many years I have learned and taught myself many things. I suppose that comes with age regardless. I’ve learned new hobbies, careers, physical activities, health goals, ways to accommodate certain physical restraints and much more. There is no chance that I could tell you how many of those I’ve failed, given up on or lost the passion for.
My children have taught me many things that I could not teach myself. No one person is a perfect parent and I know that I’ve certainly made enough poor decisions. I realize that my love for my children and passion to help them be successful and happy adults, isn’t always enough. I know there have been several things lacking in those goals. For awhile I had told myself that it was too late. I couldn’t go back and try again. However, I finally realized that I could, obviously I will not be using a time machine to do so.
Trying again doesn’t mean that the circumstances will be the same. Could I fail? Yes! Could I run into the same problems? Yes. Could you see that your loved ones really don’t care? Of course. Could you end up running into physical limitations? Always. Could you end up lighting a fire that brings joy or is useful to your children or loved ones? Absolutely!
One of the keys is that while you are picking things from your past, make certain that your are molding it to your present and future. Life has moved on and so many changes may have happened since your last attempt. Remember that you are not the same person.
There are times where you don’t have to try again. Passion to try is a large portion of personal growth. Trying again can be as refreshing and exciting as trying anything else for the first time. Trying again can mean that you have a successful outcome by reshaping your goals. You get to step away from failed attempts with the knowledge that you tried again. It takes strength to try again. It takes passion to try again. It takes hope to try again. All of those things are beautiful. They are all things that strengthen you as an individual, failing the goal or not.
I would hope that my children would want to try some things again. However I also can see how strength, hope, and passion can bloom from new things. It may not always be something you’ve taught yourself, the concept can stretch across many aspects of a persons life. My list of things that I could revisit it quite large, the things that I have tried again is admittedly no where as big as I would like it to be. However, it’s not to late for me to enjoy revisiting different goals and experiences.
There is one project that I am trying again, but gave it a new direction and breathed new life into it. Perhaps it will end up where I dream it, but in the mean time I am loving where it is taking me. The excitement of that alone is bringing me joy and something to look forward to in my day.
Happy explorations!!