Oct
Fall and Rise
In 1970, a group called Marmalade released a song entitled “Reflections of My Life.” Its lyrics included phrases such as “The world is a bad place” and a chorus that included “All my sorrow, sad tomorrow.” I wonder how such a dismal song made it to the radio.
Yesterday I mentioned the Beatles tune “In My Life.” Like “Reflections of My Life,” it made reference to the past. The difference was the optimism of the Beatles’ song. The line “…I know I’ll never lose affection for people and things that went before…” is much more promising than “All my sorrow, sad tomorrow…” It is a contrast of a positive outlook as opposed to morose self-pity.
There are emotions and moods that we cannot afford to indulge. Among the worst is self-pity. It is like a mud-filled sinkhole. We used to refer to folks “wallowing in self pity,” much as a pig wallows in the mud.
Like it or not, but we have all had our share of sorrow and disappointment. Some have had more than others. It hurts, and it is hard not to take it personally. Life can knock you down. You have a choice of staying down and wallowing in the mess, or picking yourself up and moving forward. For each hurt you may experience, there is someone who had worse. Every moment you spend staying down is another lost opportunity to beat adversity.
I like the way the Japanese explain rising after getting knocked down. They have an egg-shaped paper doll that is weighted on the bottom. He is named Daruma, after one of their legendary holy men. No matter how you roll the doll, it always lands with its head up. The Japanese have a saying attached to the doll: “Fall seven times, rise eight.” That kind of perseverance leaves no room for self pity!
Do not allow yourself to lose affection for life. When you are tempted to bemoan all that sorrow and fear a “sad tomorrow,” think of the little paper doll who always rises after he falls. Rise and take the opportunity for better. Even if you fall seven times, be the one to rise eight!
