The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
Walter Bagtehot
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Cheers.
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Dear "Eva Cartwright" readers, the story is continuing on Vagabond Tales.
http://db-vagabondtales.blogspot.com/ See you there. D
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One sure way to get my dander up, whatever dander is, is to underestimate me. If someone tried to tell me that I was not old enough, not tall enough, not strong enough or not smart enough to do something, I generally set off to prove them wrong. And the result, most of the time, was a non comment from the people who down graded me. At best it was "Huh. I'm surprised." or "I guess I was wrong." I even got the gruesome "Well, I can see it wasn't that difficult."
Having grown up with out much self-confidence, sometimes I was the nay sayer myself. Looking at a task that was very difficult I would question my own ability to carry it out. Under those circumstances I learned not only how strong I was but how to turn the task into an adventure. So what if I failed, and I rarely did, I wanted to see how far I could go in achieving success. Someone said you don't know what your limits are until you try to exceed them.
I was given a role once by a director who said that I was too young for the part and probably couldn't play it but that I was the only actor around so I had to do it. I did it so well that a famous Broadway actress who was in the audience came backstage to meet me.
Every time we accomplish something they tell us we can't do, we get stronger. When I first went into a radio studio the manager was certain I would fail. I didn't even know how to turn the microphone on. I didn't know anything about broadcasting. There was the nasty devil in my ear saying "Give it up DB, You can't do this. Tell them to get someone else." But I tamed the beast and by the end of the first hour I was playing songs and chatting away like an old pro. Oh, all right, like a young, green, wet-behind-the-ears pro, with a cow lick. But by the end of the first season I had a fan club (a small one).
About these accomplishment I'm not bragging. What I'm telling you is, if they say you can't do it, do it.
DB
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Have a glass of summer for me.
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7 comments:
cheers, cheers of applause!!!
The world can be so mean, cold and cruel. They are out there to break out spirits, make us give up. But i'm glad you showed them ;)
I definitely will be having a cool, cool glass today!!
Me, I downplay myself ONLY with myself. Walking around, I can look at someone and say quite directly, "I don't care what YOU can't do, but I am going to go and try to get it done!!"
Those Right Guard commercials ... "Never Let Them See You Sweat" ... meant the same thing about doubts. I still can't believe when I would get a test back with an 85% on it ... for some it was a good grade, but for me, it filled me with surprise.
I would be like, "I had an answer wrong?!?" Because I vainly believed that I only put down correct answers!!
Yup ... other than that, I kept it to myself ... but I can say that my Mom made sure that I thought highly of the cat in the mirror.
always adhere to this philosophy- it keeps us going- Dannelle
A good read DB. I'm one of those who always sees the cup half full never half empty and find that it makes me believe that I can accomplish or do anything I set my mind to. Hey, if I screw it up or it doesn't go quite the way I was expecting, at least I can say that I tried versus giving up before I even started. Have a good day your way.
Bravissmo, DB! We are often not the most confident about an array of things and we are often fearful. What I always like to say is that self-confidence is not the absence of fear; it is moving forward in spite of it. Continued success, my friend.
I'm fortunate in that my folks always encouraged me to do whatever I wanted. Not every kid is so lucky, that's for sure. Hugs, Beth
I enjoyed you comment very much, and I believe we are kindred spirits in this mind set of proving a point. I was told at home that I would never do this or that-- and I proved my Dad wrong every time by succeeding in the task!
And now in my retirement I consider a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ the ONLY thing that matters.
Cordially,
Tom Schuckman
tschuckman@aol.com
Vietnam Veteran: 68-70
Wisconsin
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