Favorite Quotes, Life thoughts

might have been engulfed by misfortune’s surging tide

———–

“Sometimes I pause and sadly think of all the things that might have been.

Of all the golden chances I let slip by, And which never returned again.

It fills me with gloom when I ponder this, Till I look on the other side.

How I might have been completely engulfed by misfortune’s surging tide.”

G.J. Russell

–

———

Well.

I think we all know that mistakes are part of life, failures are most typically stepping stones to success and that misfortunes are aptly named because … well … they are the missteps one takes on the way to whatever fortunes Life shares with you.

That said.

It becomes easy to overlook all those things.

And it becomes far far too easy to dwell upon the ‘golden chances I let slip by.’

I imagine it is all about what you choose to look back upon … and how you choose to look back upon it.

I am not a look back guy.

Never have been … and never will be.

I say that because I am hoping it adds a little ‘oomph’ to what I say next.

I look back.

Shit.

We all do. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t.

I do pause.

I do think of things that might have been.

I do think of golden chances which slipped by.

I do think of things which were there … and never returned again.

I do not dwell.

But I do pause on occasion.

Once again … we all do.

I would suggest that as we do we should reflect more often on how, as we stand in the present, how we might have been completely engulfed by misfortune’s surging tide.

If you are going to reflect <or is it genuflect?> remind yourself that despite all you could have done, should have done, done poorly or done in some flawed way … you were not completely engulfed by whatever you did or didn’t do.

These moments aren’t, and shouldn’t be, tainted by regret. We all do and don’t do things that in hindsight should, or shouldn’t have, been done differently.

That’s called … uhm … Life.

How do we do it?

How do most of us forge ahead and avoid being engulfed by misfortune’s surging tide?

Whether we acknowledge not or not most us recognize Life is lived best with 3 rules:

Dan Millman: Life has just three rules?

Socrates: And you already know them…

Dan Millman: Paradox, humour, and change.

Socrates: Paradox…

Dan Millman: Life is a mystery. Don’t waste time trying to figure it out.

Socrates: Humour…

Dan Millman: Keep a sense of humour, especially about yourself. It is a strength beyond all measure.

Socrates: Change…

Dan Millman: Know that nothing stays the same.

A Life truth?

A Life thought?

Whatever it is just think about it.

Recognize the Paradox, face it with humor & carry the knowledge nothing stays the same.

That’s how, in the end, most of us are not completely engulfed by misfortune … and actually find more fortune than we realize.

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May 3, 2015 by Bruce

Written by Bruce

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might have been engulfed by misfortune’s surging tide

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