A Limerick A Day to Keep You On Your Way January 25

A Limerick A Day to Keep You On Your Way January 25

January 25    Leave your behind behind. 

Is your past experience of failures causing you to sit down?

As the middle child of seven kids, three older sisters and three younger brothers I was caught between doing all the girly things and trying to fit in with the boy things.  It’s not so bad until your brothers realize you are a girl and they don’t want you being part of their toys.  Your sisters are okay but they can’t figure out why you want to be like their brothers.  Yes it was a bit confusing.

Most of my life up to my early twenty’s was centered around trying to fit into the male model.  My father supported my desire to become a toolmaker I think because my ultimate plan was to get into the best company in my local community.  Being raised with the mindset that a good job is all you need. You stay there until you retire and that makes a complete life.  I was way too restless for that.

I broke the model of this all-male toolroom in what was for sure a great company. For a time it satisfied my need to be in a boy’s world.  I will always be grateful for the skills I learned but some of those boys didn’t want me in their games either.  Stories of that will be in the book I am writing.

If I had stayed in that toxic environment until retirement I believe my life would have become bitter and resentful.  I am so grateful a day came when it was time to leave that behind.  It reminds me of a story found in Genesis 19. A man named Lot had a wife and two daughters.  Their city was about to be destroyed by fire and flaming sulfur. As they fled Lot’s wife turned for a moment to look back at the city and the story says she turned into a pillar of salt. She may have been thinking of what she was leaving behind and for that small hesitation it cost her, her life. How thankful we are our momentary hesitations don’t kill us but they could kill opportunities to truly live.

Just for today ponder what you need to leave behind. Use your behind to move your behind forward.

There once were two of the greatest minds,

Creating stories of different kinds.

They both heard,

Four little words.

Now they don’t just sit on their behinds.