I literally fell on my face yesterday, walking the dog. Time slowed as I realized my feet flew up in the air behind me instead of landing firmly on the sidewalk. My right hand still firmly gripped the dog leash as my dog, Janis, lunged one more time towards the rabbit and somehow, with both arms outstretched ironically like Superman in front of me, the pavement approached my face yet I managed to break my fall with everything but my head. Still, as I registered my full body pancaked on the sidewalk, on top of the full dog poop bag, my nose, hands, chest, and knees stung. It hurt a lot. I hurt a lot. The pain was more than physical.
Yep. Every fast-thinking, strategic, creative entrepreneur reading this immediately finds the metaphor in this. We’ve all been here in one way or another. And just like my current physical state, we’ve all felt that scrape on the nose, right there, staring at the face of everyone we meet.
This failure, if you allow me to be so dramatic, is another learning opportunity.
OK okay, I hear your groan and the squeak of your dehydrated fully caffeinated eye roll. But seriously, this painful moment is a great test as to our mettle. How are we going to handle a fall?
I was no hero yesterday. I cried. And then I patiently waited for my partner’s dog to poop so we could speed walk back home. I restrained Janis from munching on maple bark off a tree. Ivo was encouraged to keep walking instead of sniffing and peeing on every one foot patch of grass enroute. And once I got my bleeding body in the shower, I cried more.
And then I heard my Dad’s voice from a conversation not long ago. “But what’s impressive is how often you have phoenix’d, over and over again.”
So I took a deep breath, put bandaids in my bag, and proceeded to meet some beautiful friends for our planned get-together. I tell you- it was one of the best nights of my life.
As I type this I can feel the whiplash stiffening my neck, the dried scabs on my knees crack, and my upper back hurt when I laugh. Symbolically, I’m admittedly still recovering from all of my life transitions over the past 20+ years. Every time a piece of mail shows up with my old name my stomach turns. Flashbacks from past accidents, sales “bull pit”s, and unnecessary toxic relationships reopen once healed wounds. Yet it’s so abundantly obvious that my life now, as a well-respected writer living a full healthy happy life, is scrumptious. I am fine. I am just momentarily banged up a little.
And then I had a meeting this morning with a new connection from the LGBTQ+ community who is still suffering from PTSD due to being a victim of a hate crime last year. This person has spent tens of thousands of dollars to have their face put back together again and has been promised help from many usually respectable members of society in high places with the right titles and connections to seek justice. There has been zero justice served nor attempt to acquire any.
Perspective. My stupid bloody nose is nothing compared to the deep scars on my colleagues face, conscience, spirit and heart. I’m afraid for about five solid minutes that a psychologically abusive person from my recent past will continue to try to lob painful false accusations my way while stinking drunk on whiskey. And then I remember it doesn’t matter if they do. I burn a butterfly and achieve a little bit more greatness in one way or another. This person who suffers from intense PTSD is now afraid day in and day out to go out in public, attend any networking event, or reach out for new business as a once proud member of our beautiful and talented LGBTQ+ business community. That rots.
Has your groan turned into a deep sigh too? Does your heart hurt? And are you also asking how you can help? When someone falls down can we do more than help them up- can we stand up for them?
If there is a way we can turn fear and rage into love, that would solve a lot of pain. If only everyone could find the strength to be more than kind- kind isn’t enough. If everyone could find a way to be purposefully, intentionally supportive in a meaningful way, with a big dose of intelligence and humanitarianism, wouldn’t fear and hate simply dissipate?
Am I falling on my face in an entirely different way simply posing these questions?
I don’t care. I can handle it.
About Laura Paisley Beck of Wa’am Writes, LLC
Laura Paisley Beck sharpened her copywriting skills as a serial entrepreneur and corporate trained salesperson for decades. She started Wa’am Writes, LLC to finally live out a happy, healthy, comfortable life as a writer. Her sales and business experience + writing skills = copywriting super powers to help uplift businesses and organizations she believes in. When she is not writing and networking, Laura enjoys long walks with Janis Pup, dancing, cooking, silent sports outdoors, seeking Wow (Woods or Water) and dreaming of digital nomad life in Portugal. Want a colorful, experienced, successful writer for your content? Schedule time with Laura Paisley Beck today!
