Top Five Life Lessons List
Jun. 12th, 2008 05:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
qosI'm way behind on posting responses to memes, but I'm going to go out of order and start with this juicy one courtesy of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
a_belletrist:
Comment, and I will assign you a top 5 or top 10 list to provide. Top 10 favorite cheeses, top 5 reasons why Colossus is the greatest of the X-Men, whatever. Post it in your journal and others may comment and receive lists from you.
Her list for me: Top 5 Life Lessons You Learned From Other People
1. From my Dad: Human emotions move in cycles. When you're at the peak, remember that a valley will follow. When you're in a valley, know that if you hang on you'll come out the other side.
Interestingly enough, this lesson came in the context of a Sunday school lesson on the story of Elijah, who won a huge victory over the priests of Baal and then ran off into the wilderness and started crying and moaning about how terrible his life was. Dad's lesson wasn't exactly orthodox, but it's stuck with me all these years. Obviously this lesson doesn't hold true for people who are clinically depressed or have other chemical issues, but for me, for most of my life, it's been a valuable reminder when I'm feeling down.
2. From J Ranelli, my feared and respected directing professor: Sometimes you have to get in over your head to find out what you're capable of.
He made this observation during my "self critique" of my pseudo senior directing project in the department staff meeting. One of the other professors had asked me if I would recommend a project like mine to other students, and my response was, "I don't think I'd recommend someone else doing a full length play, with a twelve member cast, without the support of the department, while stage managing an un-cut production of Hamlet, as a first directing project." His laconic response has stuck with me.
3. From BM, my friend and boss at The Rocket Company: If you aren't making mistakes, you aren't growing.
This is closely related to the one above it, but being a perfectionist, it's been a hard lesson to learn. Still, because B pushed me to exceed my own expectations and get out of my comfort zone and didn't fuss about the mistakes I made as a consequence, he did more than anyone else to open me up to risk taking.
4. From RFD, my emotionally abusive ex-fiance: Saying "I love you" and not backing it up with your other words and actions on a day to day level makes the declaration meaningless.
Okay, so RFD didn't say that to me, but he sure as hell taught me the lesson.
5. From JW, my coach at work: People like you because you're different!
This one came to me just last week. We were talking about my feeling somewhat socially awkward at work, because I feel like I'm so different from everyone else, and thus not sure I really belong or fit in. His response was, in part, the words above. It's the strongest affirmation I've received of that kind in a business setting, and I'm doing my best to take it to heart.
And one more, just for fun, from Hob: Of course it's a trap! Relax and enjoy it!
A bit of gaming wisdom that I sometimes apply to real life when I'm taking things just a bit too seriously.
a_belletrist:Comment, and I will assign you a top 5 or top 10 list to provide. Top 10 favorite cheeses, top 5 reasons why Colossus is the greatest of the X-Men, whatever. Post it in your journal and others may comment and receive lists from you.
Her list for me: Top 5 Life Lessons You Learned From Other People
1. From my Dad: Human emotions move in cycles. When you're at the peak, remember that a valley will follow. When you're in a valley, know that if you hang on you'll come out the other side.
Interestingly enough, this lesson came in the context of a Sunday school lesson on the story of Elijah, who won a huge victory over the priests of Baal and then ran off into the wilderness and started crying and moaning about how terrible his life was. Dad's lesson wasn't exactly orthodox, but it's stuck with me all these years. Obviously this lesson doesn't hold true for people who are clinically depressed or have other chemical issues, but for me, for most of my life, it's been a valuable reminder when I'm feeling down.
2. From J Ranelli, my feared and respected directing professor: Sometimes you have to get in over your head to find out what you're capable of.
He made this observation during my "self critique" of my pseudo senior directing project in the department staff meeting. One of the other professors had asked me if I would recommend a project like mine to other students, and my response was, "I don't think I'd recommend someone else doing a full length play, with a twelve member cast, without the support of the department, while stage managing an un-cut production of Hamlet, as a first directing project." His laconic response has stuck with me.
3. From BM, my friend and boss at The Rocket Company: If you aren't making mistakes, you aren't growing.
This is closely related to the one above it, but being a perfectionist, it's been a hard lesson to learn. Still, because B pushed me to exceed my own expectations and get out of my comfort zone and didn't fuss about the mistakes I made as a consequence, he did more than anyone else to open me up to risk taking.
4. From RFD, my emotionally abusive ex-fiance: Saying "I love you" and not backing it up with your other words and actions on a day to day level makes the declaration meaningless.
Okay, so RFD didn't say that to me, but he sure as hell taught me the lesson.
5. From JW, my coach at work: People like you because you're different!
This one came to me just last week. We were talking about my feeling somewhat socially awkward at work, because I feel like I'm so different from everyone else, and thus not sure I really belong or fit in. His response was, in part, the words above. It's the strongest affirmation I've received of that kind in a business setting, and I'm doing my best to take it to heart.
And one more, just for fun, from Hob: Of course it's a trap! Relax and enjoy it!
A bit of gaming wisdom that I sometimes apply to real life when I'm taking things just a bit too seriously.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-13 01:15 am (UTC)I REALLY like your brain...
(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-13 01:30 am (UTC)You say the sweetest things!!
And I love that icon!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-13 02:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-13 07:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-13 02:20 am (UTC)List me, please?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-13 02:39 am (UTC)Here's your list: The five stories which are most precious to you
Fiction or non-fiction, your own stories and/or those of others. . . whichever you hold most dear.