As another Virgo, it is physically uncomfortable to relive the big Fs. But so many are hilarious, honest to Jebus hilarious. I'm working on sharing the stories outside my immediate comfy circle because, as you say, we all get a fail! And we should not pretend that we don't.
To Nancy’s comment above, we need some distance and time - and success — to look back and laugh. But until then, it would be great to remove some of the shame from it. HBD Virgo!
I had a boss that made me set a goal of failing three times a year. It was HORRIBLE...at first and then I realized that I wouldn't grow/learn if I didn't fail. I was a bit of a perfectionist (hello, fellow Virgo here!) and I had a tendency to only want to work on that which would succeed. It made me stretch and take on things that were not 100% solid. Some worked, some didn't. No one died and we didn't lose any contracts so it was all good.
Look up Patti Smith's article on failure when she sang Bob Dylan's song at the Nobel Prize ceremony and forgot the words. And watch the YouTube video of the song. Such a beautiful reflection on the power of failure.
I think it’s probably after the fact that we can admit we didn’t make it. It’s being in the middle, when nothing seems to go right, where everything looks ominous. It’s as if we’ve got a pillow pulled over us and we’re punching it hard, but we can’t find our way out. And, boy do I have stories now that the pillow is off!
This is great, Liz. My other favorite failure story is Belinda the ballerina. So insightful and thoughtful. Thanks for this. Cheers, -Thalia
As another Virgo, it is physically uncomfortable to relive the big Fs. But so many are hilarious, honest to Jebus hilarious. I'm working on sharing the stories outside my immediate comfy circle because, as you say, we all get a fail! And we should not pretend that we don't.
To Nancy’s comment above, we need some distance and time - and success — to look back and laugh. But until then, it would be great to remove some of the shame from it. HBD Virgo!
I had a boss that made me set a goal of failing three times a year. It was HORRIBLE...at first and then I realized that I wouldn't grow/learn if I didn't fail. I was a bit of a perfectionist (hello, fellow Virgo here!) and I had a tendency to only want to work on that which would succeed. It made me stretch and take on things that were not 100% solid. Some worked, some didn't. No one died and we didn't lose any contracts so it was all good.
That sounds incredibly stressful and also pretty amazing.
Look up Patti Smith's article on failure when she sang Bob Dylan's song at the Nobel Prize ceremony and forgot the words. And watch the YouTube video of the song. Such a beautiful reflection on the power of failure.
Thank you for this! I vaguely remember the incident, but not the essay. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/patti-smith-on-singing-at-bob-dylans-nobel-prize-ceremony
I think it’s probably after the fact that we can admit we didn’t make it. It’s being in the middle, when nothing seems to go right, where everything looks ominous. It’s as if we’ve got a pillow pulled over us and we’re punching it hard, but we can’t find our way out. And, boy do I have stories now that the pillow is off!
This is 100% absolutely correct. Thank you for saying it.
I absolutely love your writing & your thoughts that can inspire so many of us to realize that we are not alone in this journey! 💙🇺🇸💙
Margo, thank you 🙏