Rejection = Redirection

Photo Credit: Dana Smithers

Rejection = redirection.

There was palpable chemistry. There were long looks, stolen glances, questions from loved ones of our relationship, intimate hugs, travel, shared interests and passions, attraction. 

What could have been will not be.

And that's okay. It's more than okay.

Rejection, whether passively by ignoring flirtations or questions, or a straight up no, is a gift. Gifts don't always come nicely wrapped with bows and glitter, and heroes don't always wear capes.

Rejections are like guard rails, guiding us along our path through life. The yes's take us down detours - often beautifully curated and designed to teach us more about ourselves, about life, love and about living better through it all. We can justify why we should be with someone, or why we should have been given that job, gotten that promotion, been the winner of that $400 million lotto pot ... but it's not who or where we're our best and highest selves. What is meant to be, will be. What is not, will not. We all came into this life to learn a lesson, or two (or a few hundred). Some of us are here to learn kindness, some to be okay being alone, some to cooperate with others, some to simply give and receive with grace. Sometimes we are teachers and we are always students. Some of us are going to contribute to the betterment of society. Others of us will simply contribute to our own lives and small circle around us. Everything is for the betterment of all, as long as the intention is of purity and loving kindness. 

And I'm learning, that's how it is best. That Garth Brooks song, Unanswered Prayers, that's real shit. Normally, our best gifts in life, are the ones we don't receive. When we experience something, whether good and easy, hard and damaging, it's to teach us lessons. To teach us to be better, do better, advance further. When we are toddlers learning to walk, we fall down ... we get up, take more steps and our muscle memory and agility improve each day, with each step, each movement. Society and the public school system teach us that failure is bad, a source of embarrassment and punishable, not learnfromable.