Wednesday, July 09, 2014

Quotable Quotes: Of Shadows, Secrets, and Failures

For my best friend in my head, reader Lisa B., who is my personal psychotherapist, and lover of LadyLee food-for-thought. 

Here's a good quote. I am not sure where I got this from, but it is written on a strip of paper I found while cleaning out a purse.

You don't believe me? Here you go...


Hmm.... No telling where I got that from. It had to be good since I tore off a strip of paper and wrote it out. So I must've been riding in my car. That might be something off of Black Talk radio.

But here's the quote:

Don't allow the shadows of the past to disqualify you from the greatness of your future. Stop condemning yourself over your past secrets and failures. 

Now that is a good one.

You know, I've always wondered what it would be like to wake up and not remember all the messed up stuff I did yesterday or in years past.

Another way to ask that question, and one I've read a book on some 15 years ago... What would I do if there was no fear.

Because the shadows of the past, the secrets, and failures of the past... they are all bundled up warmly in fear, you know.

And fear paralyzes.

Just a thought.

You know, I'm always amazed at something, even within my ownself:

Me and all the people I associate with have such amazing long lists of accomplishments. Long long lists.  We should be able to recite those loudly and proudly.

But it's those doggone internal secrets and failures that always seem to crop up and get the limelight. They seem to always occupy the front row of our minds, center stage even. Why is that?

Personally I think we are trained in that type of "stinking thinking". It's a subtle thing, but true nevertheless.

Because think about it... what do we see and hear in our music and television programming, etc?

Much of it is steeped in negativity. I read in a book that stated how we are constantly bombarded with negative imagery from our media, yet we don't even realize it. However, it does affect how we feel about ourselves and our abilities. I find that interesting. 

Maybe it's just me seeing that. But I also find it quite peculiar that people who go without tv, etc., for a period of time have an overall increase in the quality of their lives. Is it just me seeing that?

All I know I make sure to not surround myself with people who will not hold my past up to my face and judge me by it. And that is difficult in this "gotcha" society these days.

For everything now seems to be about exposing people's secrets and failures... and all those skeletons that lurk in the dark shadows of the past.

Now it's... 

Ha Ha, gotcha... I found out your secret!

Ha, Ha, gotcha... you failed at what you were trying to do. 

(Now I get to talk about and laugh at you. Sigh).

When the truth is that we have all had secrets. We have all failed at something.

We can't move forward whilst constantly looking over our shoulders at our dark shadows and at that secret thing or that particular failure.

At least that is what I tell myself when I look at my own. It's almost like looking at the sun. Or a train wreck. I know I'm not suppose to look, but... 

I know I have this dream in my heart, but, but, but... What about what happen last time I tried that? Sigh

I'm not sure I can ever get away from the residue left behind from those dark and questionable areas of my past. But I sure know that I don't have to focus on them. I'd rather focus on my long laundry list of accomplishments, epiphanies, and achievements instead.

And my list is long... It's dragging on the ground.

Long enough to cover the shadows of the past.


 

13 comments:

  1. LL,
    Not trying to be negative but failure is the order of the day. They say that some of the greatest people tried, & tried, & tried racking up a gazillion failures before they "struck gold".

    Every time you get knocked down, you have to keep on picking yourself up & moving on. Other people are important, but if they can't deal with your failures then to heck with them. Just sayin'. Just talkin'
    B.O.P.

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    1. Uh... this quote seems to agree with you. Yes we all have failures. And I find it odd when we point and stare at other's failures and get all judgmental.

      I know too many people who don't get back up after the failure. And that should be the order of the day, this getting up and pressing forward.

      I just think our memory of the failure stifles us many times. I see that a lot in others and in myself from time to time.

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  2. I love that quote. It has to go in my journal. Since I've been off this summer, I've had a lot of time to think which has been good and bad. I've been thinking about the past and things I would have done differently but I wouldn't be where I am today now would I? Hmmm. A very good quote. Later :)

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  3. Good post. I am always reminded of quote I first read on this here blog, "you can't unscramble eggs". This post reminded me of that quote. What's done is done.

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    Replies
    1. And don't forget about the Southern Black Gal postulate #156, your favorite one about the rear view mirrors. LOL

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  4. Anonymous10:28:00 AM

    ohhh, i am gonna chew on that quote for a while!

    I really aint got time for the "gotcha's" and "fingerpointers". Seriously, for the folks that are in my circle, when they make a misstep., I take it personal. I tend to ask myself what did i do/say or what did i miss doing/saying to that person that could have prevented the misstep? The other question I ask myself is What Is The Lesson? for me? for them?

    The last question is Where do we go from here?

    I am 45 years old. I got enough failures, secrets, missteps, heart aches, heart breaks, pain, misery, and shame to fill atleast one of the Smithsonian Museums. I wanna spend the rest of my days reaching for better!

    Thanks for the dedication, LadyLee!

    Forgive me for posting in your comments!

    ~LisaBinAR

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    1. You know, I am a year younger than you. And I am beginning to think it is an age thing. I didn't think this way in my 30s. I am more introspective. Trying to figure out what or if I did something wrong before pointing the fingers. And trying to learn the lessons behind it.

      And at this age, we have all that negative tomfoolery behind us, enough to crowd a museum. But also, there is enough accomplishment and achievement, enough to drown all that pain out... enough to be a springboard to the greatness that is ahead.

      More food for thought coming your way. Some of it will have you O_o. But oh well. You know my heart, honey.

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  5. Yay! Food for thought. I love it and wrestle with them every time. It is all good. You must have been in my head this week.

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  6. "But I also find it quite peculiar that people who go without tv, etc., for a period of time have an overall increase in the quality of their lives."

    Girl, you ain't never lied. I am so much more productive and positive when I leave the television alone for a period of time. Recently, I stopped turning it on in the mornings while I'm getting ready for work and it makes a huge difference with how my day goes. One day, I'm gonna get rid of every TV in my house.

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    1. I must admit I have sunk into watching shows on my Roku. I miss reading and writing. I know because of my current stress I use vegging out to destress. I am working on reversing some of it. I miss being able to do more.

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    2. Anonymous5:26:00 PM

      I watch WAY too much TV...but its so available and so good! I "took off" watching TV and was so much more productive. And less petty :)

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  7. Anonymous5:27:00 PM

    This is a great quote!

    I love when people say, what would you do if you weren't afraid...fear holds us back.

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Slap the *crickets* out the way, kindly step up to the mike, and SAY something!!