Monday, January 17, 2011

Getting to the Right Place


When I was a kid, one of my favorite outside games to play was hopscotch. The strategy wasn't necessarily in how well you hopped but what you used as your marker. In my quest for finding the perfect marker, the one where when it was thrown would land right where it was supposed to be - in the right place. The search would take me everywhere. I tried flat rocks, broken popsicle sticks, pencil erasers and even bottle caps but most of the time, what worked the best was a broken chain. It didn't even have to look good or feel right. The importance was how it landed.

Isn't that how life works? We reach for what feels familiar or head to a place where we know the coffee tastes good or where we feel at home, only to find that that isn't the right place for us to be. But it felt right, it smelled right, it tasted right, it looked right....how could it not be RIGHT? Because sometimes getting to the right place takes work. It takes having a spirit of never giving up or calling it quits. It takes laughing instead of crying. It means accepting that what comes easy for some may not come easy for others. I like to say it this way..."Your blues ain't like mine!" If we all landed in the right place at the right time, then it wouldn't be a challenge and the joy of winning wouldn't be worth trying for.

Sometimes we need a tag team to help us along. It's like playing Tag and you finally decide that you can't run anymore so you ask the Tagger to tag you just so that you can freeze and rest. Doesn't mean that you have arrived at the right place...yet...it just means that it may take a little while longer so rest is needed.

Catch your breath, refuel and don't quit. Whether you are writing a book and are tired of the rejection letters, trying so hard to eat right and exercise, looking for Mr. or Miss Right, waiting for the teen angst to pass, dealing with marital issues that have you feeling like you're hanging over the edge or dealing with financial problems that have you screaming and pulling out your hair....don't give up! The right place is on its way.

Trust me, I've been there.

18 comments:

Reyna said...

That was a nice reminder I needed to hear.

Thanks!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Love the memory, but love the analogy more, Simoone. You're pretty wise for someone so young. Yes, you're young - don't be a doubter.

BTW - the older you get, the more you realize you always need a tag team.....The Big Guy is ever ready to go however many rounds you need Him to.

Brian Miller said...

nice...put me ont he i needed to hear that list...

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

It's all about takin' those sour lemons life throws at us and makin' lemonade baby!

What a wonderfully written post and I just adore the analogy. You always bless us by seein' your glass half full! :o)

God bless you and have a most marvelous day friend!!!

Anonymous said...

I needed to hear this today. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful way to say hang on in there.

I've been lurking for a while because your wisdom and wit combine for enjoyable entries. I have even added you to my blog roll.

Hope you'll stop by and see me sometime at mamasez.wordpress.com

Erin MacPherson said...

This is a great analogy.... thanks for the reminder!

Liz Mays said...

I'm so glad we're not all up and down at the same time. Can you imagine?

Donna B. said...

Oh Simone...I used a broken chain too as my marker while playing Hopscotch!! Mine was about four inches long and the links were rectangular.

What a wonderful post! I have a friend who needs to read this. I am sending her her link.

ethelmaepotter! said...

I thought I would be the only one to say I needed this today - I guess we all go through our own little crises often, don't we? But thank you for this, truly. I really DID need it today!

Saranne said...

Add me to the list of those who really needed to hear this today...thank you, my friend! oxox

Unknown said...

If you wrote a devotional book I would buy it. And give it to all of my friends. I love how you write. Beautiful analogies and illustrations.

Diva's Thoughts said...

Man you just took me back to MY childhood. We use to play Tag, Hop Scotch, Jump Rope, Jacks, all kinds of games. Do kids still "play" outside anymore?

Lin said...

Fine writing, my friend! And a damn good reminder. I like winter for that reason--it sort of forces us to rest a bit.

Lilly said...

Wow that was really inspirational. i was a lover of Hopscotch too - it was a great analogy to use. You write so well too! thanks It was a great reminder for me - keep going and dont give up.

Christina said...

This is a great analogy & wonderful words of wisdom.

Joanna Jenkins said...

WIse words, Simone-- Not always easy to do, but it's definitely a goal to work towards.
Cheers, jj

Veronica Lee said...

Love the analogy. I needed to hear this too. Beautifully written, Simone!

 

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