Even The Losers

I don't consider myself to be a loser by any stretch. However, yesterday I was a loser and I didn't mind a bit. I've been waiting and waiting to see if I was going to make it onto the new design team at Third Coast Rubber Stamps. Yesterday the list came out and I wasn't on it. "Bummer," I thought. "But, oh well." I know I'm not the only talent out there in the world. No big deal. I lost. Way it goes.

It put me in mind of the line from the movie Elizabethtown (not that I at all compare losing out on a design team slot to a 9 billion dollar shoe fiasco - hardly), "So you failed. Alright you really failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You failed. You think I care about that? I do understand. You wanna be really great? Then have the courage to fail big and stick around. Make them wonder why you're still smiling."

I blew off the rejection faster than you can say rubber stamps.

I decided I had plenty of other stuff to occupy my time. A friend turned me on to a site that helps women who have cancer, The Lydia Project. So, I decided to make some cards to donate to them. Another friend let me know that she's hosting a benefit for someone in her circle who was just diagnosed with cancer. So, I offered to make cards for her benefit gig as well.

Then the day picked up speed and I got two new card orders and a commission for a painting-collage piece.

Losing was turning out to be pretty damned good!

Then an old friend emailed me and offered me airfare to come for a visit.

Losing was turning out to be fucking awesome!

But... wait for it...

Then I got an email from the owner of TCRS, saying that she had several positions to fill for Guest Designers. Would I be interested in that? Would I?! Oh, hell yes!

I love losing. You betchya.

I am one happy, busy loser.

Here's the deal... I think that when you don't get bent out of shape because something didn't turn out exactly as you planned it, the universe rewards you for that. I think when you don't sit around moping and pouting, and simply move along to the next indicated thing, you get bonus points on your Karma Awards Card.

Because no matter how miserably you might fail, no matter how big you lose, there is always, always the next indicated thing to do.