January 21, 2013

Story of Failure

Accomplish, Celebration, Failure, Family, Lie, Life, Lifestyle, Opportunity, Solace, Success, Truth, #Amreading, #Blogchatter, #Dream, #writefullyyours, #Amwriting, #Motivation, #quotes, #Inspiration, #leadership

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently". - Henry Ford

I am Failure. Not a failure, but failure itself. Not the verb, but the noun.

I have seen people with mighty hearts and decorated chests, cringe by my very mention. Those widely respected and honored in their lives and fields, pray they never have to see me in the eye. Sometimes, in all my innocence, I wish at least such brave-hearts  would like to take me head on as a challenge. But they don't ever dare to. I have often wondered why.

Trust me, I don't look that hideous!

Like the black sheep, hidden from the glory of the living rooms of all the braggart families, I have a cousin to blame for this.

Bitch, thy name is Success

Success is pretty and a lot of people, despite of their age and experience (or the lack of it), have crush on her. It's blinding, it's flashy and it makes one utterly myopic. Many a great souls have lost their way after achieving success. But every courageous soul who has ever had an encounter with me has always set new goals and started afresh.

After every success lies an emptiness, after every failure lies a hidden opportunity!

Beyond every finish line, and before every start, in the solitude of thunderous applause, is me. I am the way to look into the future because I have the vision.

We have a strict framework, rules and definitions for success, but me, I am Universal. With no definitions, explanations or interpretations. Not Subjective. While your success may not convince or appease many, your failure is accepted by all. I am the gold standard against which all your successes would be measured.

Success invariably would always be incomplete. It would always make you worry about others' reactions. I am absolute. I would make you a clean slate. What else could possibly be a better place to dust off and start again?

I understand the fixation of  being successful.  But to forget my role once you have been successful is, well, just rude! If anything, I am the springboard that catapulted you to your goals.

Me and my lovely cousin have frequent contests of "tug of war". We call it Life. As lovable as she is, she never gives me credit for my role. And I don't ask for one.

I am that fifth grade Math teacher who helped you get over your fear of the subject by scaring you more. Now, you don't remember him while you accept your accolades as a great Mathematician.

I am that teenage lover of yours whom you deserted for college. And now when you shamelessly seek attention of the gorgeous ladies at your corporate job, I smile in the background.

I am that parent of yours who put in everything he/she had for your future and you comfortably forgot to mention that in your valedictory speech.

I am that sibling who prayed for your scores in his/her struggles. Now, when I struggle to meet my ends, you shun me.

Success is a result of the work put in by the best teacher- failure!

I am that patient homemaker who ignores all your flirtatious transgressions, knowing  at the end of the day, you will come back home for solace.

And sooner, than later, you will come back and embrace me. You will have to accept me as, in your fancy vocabulary, "part and parcel" of life.

Beyond all inflated egos, materialistic gains and short lived happiness, you will find me.

Accept me now, when you have the sweet taste of success.
Or I will hit back, hard.



Photo Courtesy: www.matchexecutives.au

14 comments :

  1. I do not think failure has ever been so expressive. Fantastic thought Process. Loved reading it..

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  2. The dark side of the moon... Found... Explored... and now broadcast through your beautiful prose... Amazing :)...

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  3. "utterly myopic" ... Nice usage..! Got a little lost in between but overall a nice read.. Loved the last line..

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  4. Seriously, you should accept it when you are going through the phase of success. It makes you more human and it is very much a part of our lives. Success is just a phase, rest of the times we embrace failures and as you mentioned various stages, we can't escape it.

    LOL! on Bitch thy name is success. :)

    My funda is simple, work and don't bother as whenever I bother, it becomes very difficult to handle it. Thought provoking and one of the best posts on your blog. Even I posted a quote of success today :)

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    1. I was skeptic in using the B word...but I thought lets try! :)

      Thanks for saying the kind words. Glad you liked it :)

      I read your quote. It was really good!

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    2. We should use all the words which we feel like, that's what blogging is all about, being honest and who you are. I really enjoyed reading this post. :)

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  5. A wonderful read.Failures' personification & his lament was aptly put. :)
    Generally, I think about fear & started reading as if it was story of fear.Ha! but story of failure - a new angle for me.. :)

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  6. Awesome personification of failure. I honestly started thinking about failure from a different angle altogether! :)

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Now, it is time to be honest !