My good friend Blessing (who has written here a few times, pictured above) posted this beautiful update to Facebook a couple weeks ago:
Nine years ago (exactly today), I landed in the United States of America for the first time. I was 18, and I knew not a soul in this great nation. I had with me one suitcase, $800 (that my father handed me at the airport with a tight hug and a promise that I will make him proud, and matter of fact make the whole family proud), and off I went with a big dream – to study engineering, and change all of our lives forever. A lot of water have passed under the bridge of course. Sometimes I win….sometimes I learn…but always I live to the fullest. Nothing else.
I am so proud of her for everything she has accomplished in a relatively short amount of time. She’s bold and courageous and she’s building a wonderful life for her daughter. She inspires me with her career moves and her advocacy for women to pursue and excel in STEM careers.
It was one line in particular in her update that gave me a ton to chew on:
Sometimes I win….sometimes I learn
Love her perspective. Life ain’t about winning and losing. When you have too many bad days in a row, it can knock you down, getting you doubting everything you’re working toward.
But I had to understand that every setback wasn’t a rejection, but merely a detour. In every disappointment, I’ve mined my hurt for lessons. And I’ve yet to come up empty.
When the going gets tough, you get tougher. That’s my motto. Sure, you may feel defeated or feel like there’s no relief from the bad news. But a new day will come. The storms don’t last always. In the meantime, work with what you have. Count the lessons in the failures. Discover how much new knowledge comes with getting it “wrong.”