Thursday, July 1

Just accept Murphy's Law


While holding down the button that puts the top of my convertible up and down, I realized that the day the motor controlling it decides to give out, I'll be in the car, with the top down, in a place with no cover to drive under, in a flash-flood inducing rainstorm. It's just the way life is. I've already mentally prepared myself for it, and the best I can hope for is to be wearing waterproof mascara that day.

Murphy's Law = "Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." But you know what? I laugh at Murphy's Law because I know something that not a lot of people know. Not only was Edward A. Murphy, Jr. a real person, but despite everything apparently going wrong for him all the time, he was a successful man! Imagine that - Mr. Gloom and Doom did well for himself!

Actually, I doubt he was gloomy at all, but I would assume he was incredibly hopeful since he was an aeronautical engineer who's primary job was to create new technology, then test it out to see how well it worked (or not.) Most likely he was optimistic about his creations being successful, but realistic in the fact that he knew not all would go as planned each time.

Things will never go the way we planned 100% of the time, and if you find everything is suddenly going exactly right, all the time, I'd start looking under the bed and over my shoulder!
The important thing is not to let unexpected setbacks in life drag us down. The most resilient people are the most successful, since they never give up.
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."
~Helen Keller

I found this great little poem about not quitting, and liked it so much that I wanted to share it with everyone - so here it is:

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won if he'd stuck it out.
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are -
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Author Unknown

7 comments:

Karen Mortensen said...

Very good. I love these to quotes. I have them both written down somewhere. I love Helen Keller because of what she did with her life. Against all odds she over came and did great things.

Myrtle Beach Dude said...

"We have a saying down in the sewer:

When tide of Life turns against you
And the current upsets your boat
Don't waste those tears on what might have been
Just lay on your back and float!"

Ed Norton via Art Carney

Nicole said...

Love it! You just inspired me for my next post -!!

Leanne said...

Michele - you are so great. I really enjoy your blog - and this is a great post! I remember this poem (I can't remember where I first was introduced to it, but as I read it I found myself so very familiar with it! Thanks for reintroducing me to it!) You cracked me up with the "waterproof mascara"! That's so funny! Love love LOVE this!!

Pamela Bousquet said...

Heh-heh!! Michele.... I have a little convertible Mini-Cooper, and have imagined the SAME thing happening to me!! I know I'd be pretty upset at the time, but guess those moments give us something to "laugh" at later, right? (ha!)
Great post - you have such WIT, girl!! :D

Pamela Bousquet said...

p.s.:
Michele, I'm going to make sure I go out and pick up "the Happiness Project" today!!! MAN - am I glad I've connected with you!!!!!

LOVE ya,
Pam

Holly said...

GREAT POST!! Me & Murphy's Law... yeah... We've known each other a LONG time... LOL!! ;p