When I was a child, I remember both my mother and grandmother giving me a thick, viscous, malt-based concoction on a spoon daily. It was “good for me” I was told. There was no evading it. It was poured and administered – spoon immediately in mouth – I had no choice but to swallow it as quickly as possible and remove any traces by creating tumultuous waves in my mouth, swishing and agitating, with water – a gulp and a frown – knowing that I’d have to endure the same….tomorrow.
My mother said that the crust of the bread was also “good for me” and so never removed it from my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which I loved.
And so to this day, I still eat the crust first (because in that household there was no getting around NOT eating what you were given lol) off any sandwich that I’m consuming – leaving the delicious center for last.
I didn’t realize that I was already learning a valuable lesson as a young person, that in life you must figure out how to deal with the hand you’re dealt. When you’re playing cards you have no idea which cards are going to end up in your hand. Sometimes they bring you joy and feelings that you’re going to win, and sometimes you just can’t wait for the game to be over.
Our power always lies in how we CHOOSE to respond to the hands we’re dealt.
Will you throw in the towel? Give up? Quit?
Or will you, as Cari Murphy describes in Create/Change/Now, make decisions to use the strength of your character to bravely play out your hand with honesty, integrity and grace?
Get clear about marketing! 