Success and Failure

Is it becoming a rare thing to find people HAPPY for their acquaintances, friends, or family who've succeed or accomplished something?  

Something to think about ............ the last time you accomplished something.
-Did you hesitate to tell people for fear you'd make them feel bad?
-Did you hesitate to share your news because it wouldn't be celebrated?
-Did you share your great news to only have people respond with an excuse why they didn't do it too?

In college I took an interpersonal communication class and felt like a light bulb went off in my head when I learned this.  I still don't remember it all the time.  I feel like I should apologize to all those amazing people who shared their stories of success and I didn't make a BIG DEAL about it.  It is human nature to feel distress when others do amazing things and we feel like all our attempts turn into failures.  Just because we may have failed at something Does not mean we are failures.  Shut off that voice in your head that says you can't do it, or that should've been you, or why not me.


While I was thinking about this post I went to help in Art class at my children's school.  The teacher told a story that illustrates this perfectly.  Leonardo da Vinci was helping on a painting with his art teacher and other students.  Back then they could make more money by working together on paintings.  In the picture just below they can see signs of Leonardo's work through out the painting, but the story goes with the angel on the right.  When he finished painting the angel his teacher NEVER painted again.  He declared that Leonardo da Vinci was a much better painter.  HOW SAD to quit.  Think of all the other students he could have taught or paintings he didn't create. 

Let's be rare and practice our interpersonal communication skills by..........celebrating the success of others.