Making Lemonade

I was listening to CBC's radio program Tapestry this morning (via podcast) - it was about Harold Kushner's book Overcoming Life's Disappointments. In it, he discusses what happens to people whose dreams die or aren't fulfilled.

He's a rabbi, and so comes from a place of faith - which almost brings me back to my last post about the connection between faith and happiness, and how people of faith (any faith) tend to deal better with life's little upsets... but I will try to stick to what I really wanted to talk about.

There was a particularly insightful point he made about expectations. Just because you psych yourself up for something, doesn't mean it's meant to be. And sure, it might sting for a bit when it doesn't come to pass but, as he said - would you really want a life free of rejection?

At first glance you might think yes... but...

(I'm paraphrasing here but...) Would you want to be married to someone who was only married to you because they couldn't say no? Would you really want to be in the first job you ever interviewed for? Or still dating the first person you ever dated because they couldn't reject you?

For most of us, I'm guessing, the answer is clear. Thinking back, I can't imagine the horrible way my life would have worked out if I was still dating my first boyfriend, or working the first job I ever interviewed for coming out of school... I mean, yikes.

And in this light, I think the point is that as hard as things may be to understand in the moment, time illuminates the cosmic rationale behind all things.

I try (TRY) to have faith in those moments of rejection and disappointment, to remember that I am here for a reason and a purpose and that purpose will find me. And those rejections are nothing more than roadsigns pointing you back to your purpose, back to your path - because there is always something better coming around the corner.

So I dedicate this to a good friend who is going through a trying period at the moment and facing a lot of uncertainty. Be patient... the best is yet to come.