Acceptance and moving forward are two concepts that don't come easy for me. I have dealt with both more times than I'd like to admit to. In retrospect, those past disappointments most definitely served their purpose in helping me be where I am currently in my life.
The acceptance of ending a relationship, losing a family member or perhaps not having reached the goal you had set out to reach are all difficult things to accept. And yes, I've had to undergo all three of the things at some point in life.
Moving forward can be challenging but most definitely possible. I'm not saying that there will not be a period of sadness, but it will not last forever. I don't remember how or when it happens but at some point you wake up in the morning and you feel like your normal self.
When dealing with disappointment, don't lose sight of who you are. Don't shut out your friends or loved ones, but be honest with them. They will respect any space or time you may need until you feel better. But don't alienate yourself and don't worry about burdening others with problems, because that's what friends are for.
If we talked to friends only during our "happy" moments, then I wouldn't really call them friends. I'd consider them to be "party buddies". Your "real" friends will be there for you and yes, we are happy to hear from you even in those moments when you are feeling sad.
The best advice I ever received regarding dealing with disappointment was from my dear friend M. She said to do things that I loved. She said to do things like: read, pray, dance, go have coffee with friends, write -- all of which are things that I enjoy. She said that sooner or later that I would be back to normal. And of course, she was right. Once I accepted disappointment as part of life, I was able to move forward. And guess what? Other opportunities opened up for me.
So like we say in Spanish, "No hay mal que dure cien años." Keep moving forward and pick yourself up. Don't be the girl or boy who falls. Be the one who bounces back.
Priscilla Rice is an actor, poet, mother and aspiring samba dancer. She has appeared in several plays at the Latino Cultural Center and helps coordinate a monthly spoken word event at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. She studied Broadcast Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked as a radio news/traffic reporter and assignment editor for various television stations. She currently works as an interpreter/translator. She is originally from Crystal City, TX and resides in Dallas with her son, Leo.
The acceptance of ending a relationship, losing a family member or perhaps not having reached the goal you had set out to reach are all difficult things to accept. And yes, I've had to undergo all three of the things at some point in life.
Moving forward can be challenging but most definitely possible. I'm not saying that there will not be a period of sadness, but it will not last forever. I don't remember how or when it happens but at some point you wake up in the morning and you feel like your normal self.
When dealing with disappointment, don't lose sight of who you are. Don't shut out your friends or loved ones, but be honest with them. They will respect any space or time you may need until you feel better. But don't alienate yourself and don't worry about burdening others with problems, because that's what friends are for.
If we talked to friends only during our "happy" moments, then I wouldn't really call them friends. I'd consider them to be "party buddies". Your "real" friends will be there for you and yes, we are happy to hear from you even in those moments when you are feeling sad.
The best advice I ever received regarding dealing with disappointment was from my dear friend M. She said to do things that I loved. She said to do things like: read, pray, dance, go have coffee with friends, write -- all of which are things that I enjoy. She said that sooner or later that I would be back to normal. And of course, she was right. Once I accepted disappointment as part of life, I was able to move forward. And guess what? Other opportunities opened up for me.
So like we say in Spanish, "No hay mal que dure cien años." Keep moving forward and pick yourself up. Don't be the girl or boy who falls. Be the one who bounces back.
Priscilla Rice is an actor, poet, mother and aspiring samba dancer. She has appeared in several plays at the Latino Cultural Center and helps coordinate a monthly spoken word event at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. She studied Broadcast Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked as a radio news/traffic reporter and assignment editor for various television stations. She currently works as an interpreter/translator. She is originally from Crystal City, TX and resides in Dallas with her son, Leo.
