26.9.10

Life Is A Game: Winning Isn't Everything...

"Life is a Game: When we see everything in life as a game, we will be equally joyous when falling as we are when rising. If we can fully understand this - if we can see life as swinging on a swing - we will never fall apart when failure comes our way."--Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma)
Jean Honore Fragonard - The Accident of the Swing
When the game of life is not going our way, it is hard to see the swing from our stress laden eyes and recognize that, as in Murphy's Law, what goes up must come down. Sometimes we forget that the game isn't always about winning but about learning lessons that build our wisdom bone. Imagine if you never failed at anything in life and that every action or move you made was a full house on a deck of cards; where would the life lessons, insights and compassion come from?

I dont know about you, but I've learned some of my best lessons and gained respect and gratitude for life and others from some of my failures/disappointments. Our failures don't have to be epic ones either; we can learn a lot from small failures too. If we pause to remind ourselves of the peaks and valleys of life, we can develop a positive outlook with faith. How many times have you stopped yourself in the middle of a stressful situation and asked the question: What is the lesson in this event? Then remember, for what it's worth "this" too shall pass.

This post fits very well with one of MamaKat's Writing Workshop prompts for this week: But teachers know everything!! Write about a time a teacher disappointed you.

As I read Charlotte Bronte's poem "Life" below and share my language course lesson/story, I find comfort in the knowledge that gloomy events in our life are transient and the showers of a difficult day make our roses truly bloom; they make our character strong and resilient... Of course, our mental outlook is imperative. We must see the showers for the temporary fall from the swing that they are. What showers are you facing now?
Girls Swinging at Sunset via Wonderwm16
"Life." by Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) English novelist & poet
LIFE, believe, is not a dream
  So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
  Foretells a pleasant day.

Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
  But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
  O why lament its fall ?

 Rapidly, merrily,
  Life's sunny hours flit by,
    Gratefully, cheerily,
  Enjoy them as they fly!

What though Death at times steps in
  And calls our Best away?
What though sorrow seems to win,
  O'er hope, a heavy sway?

Yet hope again elastic springs,
  Unconquered, though she fell;
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
  Still strong to bear us well.

    Manfully, fearlessly,
  The day of trial bear,
    For gloriously, victoriously,
  Can courage quell despair!

 I have always loved French and studied it intermittently throughout my school years. I remember my earliest class in elementary school and the nursery rhymes we learned,  Frère Jacques, being one of my favorites. However, despite my years of learning the language, and the fact that I sound french to some people and speak it very well in my dreams, I still can't speak the language. My brilliant younger sister and several nieces speak it fluently and I've wished to join their chats. I often wonder what karmic memory has sealed my tongue as I do speak two other languages very well.

Frère Jacques, frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines!
Din, dan, don. Din, dan, don.

Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?
Brother James, Brother James,
Morning bells are ringing! Morning bells are ringing!
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.
 

When I came to the US, I took a french conversation class with a very impatient foreign language instructor who invited me to get lost from her class because I was not cutting muster. Her approach was so degrading, I wont infuriate you with the details... Nevertheless, I was so incensed/disappointed that I made a decision to not only drop the class but to also transfer to another school. I switched into another course and the instructor was so dynamic, fascinating and supportive that I excelled there and he eventually wrote me a stellar recommendation to a top university ... every disappointment has its unseen blessing.

Regardless of the curve-balls life throws at us, we must press on and remember the swing for what it is; a game that can have both fun and frightening rides. We don't give up the playground out of fear, we just learn to go with the flow and master the rides as they come at us. When failure comes our way, we learn from it, dust ourselves off and get on the next ride... which will be infinitely better. Your thoughts? What have you struggled with that has offered other blessings? I would love to hear from you: Please leave me a comment. Thank You!
NOTE: * Happy 57th Birthday, Amma, on September 27th!

PHOTO CREDITS:
Photo of The Accident of a Swing by Jean Honore Fragonard ~ courtesy of Wikipedia
Photo of Girls Swinging at Sunset Poster by Wonderwm16 ~ via Photobucket


Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank

13 comments:

  1. Thanks for join my blog hop,
    Have a nice day,
    Nan
    http://beonefineday.blogspot.com

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    Tara
    www.gointothemousehouse.com

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    Nichole@
    carterfamilytable.blogspot.com

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  4. Following you back from today's hop. Thanks for following me and I'm looking forward to reading your posts.

    Have a wonderful week!

    CardioBunny
    Fabulous n Free

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  5. Happy to found your blog! :)...your posts are truly inspiring! :)

    Would ♥ to hear from you too! :)

    Chic & Sassy Homemaker
    http://chicsassymom.blogspot.com

    Best Regards!

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    ~Kirs

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  7. Hi,

    thanks for stopping by, I'm following you now^^

    Amiko

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  8. Stopping by from Tuesday's Blog Hop. I am your newest follower.

    www.thewhitewhimsies.blogspot.com

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  9. Following you from Fabulous Finds Tuesday Blog Hop

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  10. I'm your newest follower from Welcome Wednesday! Would love for you to visit me at Mom of all Trades when you get a chance :)

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  11. You're right, life is our ultimate teacher. Very profound.

    Found you on Mama Kat's. I am your newest follower.

    Tonya / Letters For Lucas
    http://lettersforlucas.blogspot.com/

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  12. I just discovered your blog & I love it. Going thru some tough times right now; you have many inspirational articles. Love Charlotte Bronte's poem!

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