I don’t recall the number of times I have been told to ‘take it easy’ or ‘know your limitations’. These are words spoken by people who care for me and for my welfare. I don’t explain to them that limits are restrictive and negative. Yes it is important to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and to take them into account when you are doing anything. However. Isn’t there always a ‘however’? However, I believe that if we put too much emphasis on our limitations we will indeed live down to them. If we are merely aware of them and occasionally ‘push the envelope’ then we stand a much better chance of living a full and productive life. There are those near me (not too near) who believe I should not strive as hard as I do or hope as much as I do because I am setting myself up for failure. I counter that if I do as they think then I am ensuring myself of a failure. I prefer to reach for the stars with my feet firmly planted on the ground. So to speak.

Speaking of failure, why is it considered to be so bad? Every journey is a learning experience and failure is part of the path. As children we are taught to embrace our failures and to examine them. We learn from our failures. Easy successes are nice but they do not give us the knowledge to deal with the disappointments we will encounter in our lives. Failures keep us humble and allow us to fully appreciate our successes. Living is messy and painful but it is also joyous and wonderful. Just because we have a few speed bumps in the way is no reason to turn back. Life is forward and waiting for us. Let’s give it a shot.