**As a belated 2015 New Years Resolution, I decided I would write a daily (or, almost daily, I know some days I just won’t be able to find the time) blog answering a thought provoking question from a long list of questions I found here in a quest of self exploration.
Today’s Chosen Question :
What life lesson did you learn the hard way?
…..Every life lesson, haha. No, literally. I am as stubborn as a mule, and I can’t really seem to convince myself to just take someones word for it if they tell me “don’t do that”. I was the toddler that learned fire was hot after sticking my fingers in it despite many warnings and NO!’s. I was the six year old that broke my arm because warnings to not climb that high on a tree were ignored, why shouldn’t I climb high, I have a great view!
But singed fingers and broken arms, they heal. There are darker lessons I have had to learn the hard way where my life in general would have been better off if I would have just listened to the people around me that love me who tried to advise me against certain things. I try to push boundaries too much. I have a hard time accepting my own limitations and I try push past them, which is sometimes a really good quality (perseverence) but sometimes gets me in way over my head. Will I ever be the type of person who can just take someone at their word? The advise and/or warnings would have to come from a pretty spectacular person, someone who I really truly respect. Most people, whether or not they mean well when trying to advise me, I just tend to think “Well this worked out badly for them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will work out badly for me.”
I really try not to live with regrets. Even in learning lessons the hard way, the important thing is that the lessons DO get learned so when something doesn’t work out I just try to take that lesson and incorporate it into my future decision making. Its sometimes a stressful life, but maybe a more fulfilling one. I burned my fingers but at least I will never wonder what fire actually does feel like. I broke my arm, but I did get to climb to the top of the tallest tree in the neighborhood and before the branch broke, I had a really cool view.
I think the bottom line is that its okay to learn some lessons the hard way, but keep in mind that people aren’t trying to prevent your happiness by advising you, they are trying to save you pain. Its really up to you if the possible bad outcome is worth the experience.
Kell Frillman - Author 