A friend really made a good point to me the other day. She told me that what might be seen as a weakness in one situation can be a strength in another. This really struck me as extremely wise and very true. It’s easy to look at one situation and say, “I didn’t handle that well, so I suck.” When the truth is, that no one can do the right thing in every situation.
Stubbornness is a good example of this. Although some of my loved ones don’t think I’m that stubborn, I know that I have my moments. It runs in my family. My boyfriend and my brother both have strong episodes of stubbornness too. And stubbornness, the word, implies something negative.
I think my boyfriend and I are hilarious in the grocery store. It’s the only time we ever ‘fight,’ but our mini-battles are stubborn meets stubborn. Both of us want the other one to get more groceries. He loves cookies like no one I’ve ever met before, so I always try to buy him some. When we’re watching our money, like right now, he’ll refuse to let me get them, even though they’re only $1.19. On the other hand, he’s more likely to try to talk me into getting a more expensive coffee, which is significantly more expensive than a pack of chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes we’re locked in an aisle, one putting something in the cart, the other taking it out over and over again. It’s pretty funny, especially because we’re both laughing and serious at the same time.
But my own stubbornness has been helpful at times too. Like when my mother was diagnosed with cancer and the doctor said she needed a complete masectomy. She didn’t want that, so I very determinedly took her to get a second opinion, where they said she only needed a lumpectomy. She did end up passing away, but it wasn’t from cancer. The second doctor was the right one, and if I hadn’t been in her life, she would not have had anyone to be stubborn for her.
The advice in today’s blog is simply this – the failures you think you have can also be your greatest strengths. Try reframing them as my friend suggested, and maybe you’ll have a better appreciation both for yourself, and for everyone around you.
And I’m trying to follow my own advice!
All best,
Rose
