I think all great innovations are built on rejections.” – Louis Ferdinand Celine
“I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get me going, rather than retreat.” – Sylvester Stallone
I wonder if bears care about rejection, or if they are always all about being themselves — even if they are blue. — Photo by Pat Bean
Life Lessons from an Old Broad
These days I take rejection slips that result from someone not buying one of my writing submissions with great pride. They are evidence that I put myself out there.
And would a giraffe feel rejected if it looked different from the rest of its kind? OK, so I’m being silly. Reject me. See if I care. == Photo by Pat Bean
But that kind of thinking wasn’t always a part of my psyche.
Looking back on my life, as I sometimes find myself doing, I suddenly remembered all the times when I didn’t put myself out there, whether it was not applying for a promotion, or not taking the risk of revealing my true self because I was afraid of being rejected.
It wasn’t so much that I was afraid of rejection, but that I was afraid for others to know, on any level, that I had been rejected.
Now I realize how foolish I was. Not only is it true that nothing ventured means nothing gained, but the only person who can truly reject me is me.
Does that make sense? This wondering-wanderer says: “Yes.” Now I just wonder why it took me so long to come up with the right answer.
The Wondering Wanderer’s blog pick of the day.
Bean’s Pat: Lightning Dropets http://tinyurl.com/kdkr6bn This blog about writing rejections is what got me thinking about rejections on other levels
Pat Bean's blog 
While I may not love rejection, I try to put it in context. Rejection almost always comes from strangers, to whom I’m no one special. Nice post, Pat.
Thanks as always Bob. Have a lovely weekend.
I agree you gotta put yourself out there. Not only to end up with recognition and/or money (important as these may be!), but to see how your view of the world fits with others’. I just wrote about this, myself, at http://www.theunpackagedeye.com/of-strawberry-rooms-and-perspective-sharing/
Thanks for the comments Rachel, and nice blog you have.
I think this is a realisation that you have with age. Things that seemed so important when you were younger do not have the same effect on your thinking as you age.
Which is one the best reasons for aging. No way would I want to go back to my angst-filled youth. Thanks Colline.
Thanks so much for the reminder and to not take life so personal at times too! Happy Weekend:)
Right back at you, happy weekend Craves Adventure. I hope you have one.
It isn’t so much rejection which paralyzes us, but rather the fear of rejection. As you’ve point out, to be rejected one has to first put one’s self out there…which is also the first step to success.
I have no regrets about my life, but if I had it to do over again I would put myself out there a lot more often. Thanks for commenting Alex.
Great mindset!
I think we think a lot alike Cindy. Thanks for commenting.