A Thousand Ideas
I'm watching a documentary on the climb to Mount Everest titled: Storm Over Everest (2008) about the 1996 disaster that killed about 8 people. I always wondered the appeal of making even an attempt at something so dangerous and risky, yet in a way I understand and have thought to myself if I could ever do it one day. That aside, my point to why I am writing my first post at this moment lies in some thoughts about success and perseverance no matter what self-doubts we may have or have grown up with. Oh yeah I've also been watching the Olympics and this too has led me to write this.
But first - Just to give you a little background about myself - I was born in MD year 1980, where my El Salvadorian birth mother had me. A single mother, she had been living in what I assume the capital of that country San Salvador which back in 1980 was going through a deadly Civil War, many including pregnant women ( I'd seen an interview years back of a woman stating this) and so not sure but to make an educated guess, that is why she decided to fled to the states. Three months later I am adopted into a wonderful family and I grew up in McLean VA ( Northern VA) outside of the Washington DC metro region.
I was around 5 when I started to be tested by the school system to see how I was doing developmentally ( I'm sure there is a better way to explain this ). They tell my mother that my IQ was below average, and that there was no chance I would graduate HS, the most I'd get to might be up to an 11th grade education. Thank god for my mother whose spitfire spirit never gave up on me and basically told them "Bullshit!" This was after all the 80's and so I'm guessing testing is way more better and advanced than it was back then. While yes through my early to mid education years I proved them wrong, as they then second guessed their prior diagnosis of me. However I was deemed LD ( Learning Disability) and had to take some structured classes to accommodate that.
37, as I look back on all this now, I wish I had not been so insecure about it and that I wish I had pushed myself better knowing I was smart and capable rather than rebel against it. It would take me a long time to really become more confident in my own intelligence, knowledge and capabilities as my peers, especially my family and friends.
What helped me through at times was through learning about role models who had been told what I was told growing up those many years ago. I'd remembered in my HS days hearing about Albert Einstein and how it wasn't until he turned 4 that he spoke his first word. He was told or was assumed he wasn't smart and that he was LD. Whether rumor or myth, I just remember hearing that when I was growing up and it gave me a sense of self.
Today I don't hold the stigma that I let it have on me back then. I think as we've learned through the years that everyone learns in a different way and I'm glad that schools, educators are now realizing this. I believe that anyone is capable of anything they put their mind to, no matter what. While I could literally share over 1,000 examples of people in our history and my life, I will say a few that also have stood out to me.
Thomas Edison: He was told by his teachers that he was actually too stupid to learn anything! '" He was fired from his first two jobs for being "non-productive." As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied, "I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps." " ( source: But They Did Not Give Up - https://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Pajares/OnFailingG.html )
Oprah : “Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire.”
― Oprah Winfrey ( Source: https://www.goalcast.com/2016/09/28/top-20-inspiring-oprah-w... )
Many more so many that I am grateful to have learned from and admire. Anyways as I close I can only say that I am happy to feel alive again, rejuvenating my inspirations and ideas again.
Cheers and a happy Saturday into Sunday night ;)
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Wow, very very interesting! I have felt like that in years past and some of that still tries to plage me from time to time. Having been blessed to do some of the work I do now I feel that most people with these so-called LD problems or ADD personalities are in reality very creative types of people. Some of the people I have been able to work with on stage have been a challenge sometimes, however, What a Beautiful gift they give the world.
Awesome picture! I appreciate your response too. I will take a look at your profile I'm curious as to what you do on stage when working with people.
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Thank you for the follow! Such an inspiration . Never say never, I know you can paddle a boat upstream without a paddle and I'll see you at the top!
Awe Thank you! I think it's so easy to give into our fears and I know I have. I like that saying " you can paddle a boat upstream without a paddle" :)