:::: June 7, 1999 ::::

MONDAY June 7, 1999

The Art Of Winning

"Our greatest glory is not in never
failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

As I read the above quote from Emerson, I really DO want to feel this way, that whatever my failures are, I will rise above them and somehow overcome them. But as I sit and sulk, depressed about what I had been through lately, it seems almost impossible if I will ever feel that inspiration and energy again, when I was at a point where I thought I was giving it my all and succeeding. I suppose that I shouldn't feel this way, dwelling on the past and letting it weigh me down. I should know better from everything I've ever read about being strong and having a strong will. It's all a part of survival isn't it, that's what it boils down to... being a total surviver.

I recently joined a mailing list called "Diary-L", a list that is very active. I posted a few messages announcing that I'm a "newbie", but as of yet, no one had responded to my posts. Another person mentioned she was new, and bang, all of a sudden there is a long thread responding to her post with welcomes and advice. Well, maybe my approach was not the right one, maybe I was being too "upfront", I don't know. It's just that it kind of upset me that no one responded and still haven't responded yet to my posts... oh well... so much for introductions.

But, "let me take that back", someone did finally respond to me via private email. Elizabeth was definitely a surprise, as she had mentioned that she had been reading my journal and was trying to find the best places to see jazz in San Diego. She had just moved here some months ago and because she is a contributing Jazz editor to Suite101.com on the Web, she was wondering where all the happening jazz spots were around town.

Upon following the link to her journal site from her email signature, I discovered what was perhaps the best looking journal I have seen yet, designed the way only a professional web designer could, and I later realized in her message to me that she was indeed a designer. I was quite impressed, but upon reading her journal entries and finding out what this poor girl had been through, I began to feel her sorrow and her betrayal. I felt ashamed that I thought my predicament was the worse, until I stumbled upon hers.

But, in understanding and feeling for her anguish, I soon found out on her journal site that she had won an online journaling award, three to be exact, and my emotions again turned to that of joy for her. Geez, to win three Diarist.net Awards in a row, that's quite an achievement. And there's not that many categories.

I kind of felt as if I had gotten an email from a celebrity now. I suppose that to the online journaling world, it's like receiving an Academy Award. And it's funny but I don't know this person at all, but I feel happy for her, sort of living vicariously through her. This is a set of awards people would give their right lung for, well maybe not their right lung, but I feel it's wishful thinking for many journalers out there! And there are an awful bunch of online journals out there in cyberspace nowadays!

MUSIC TODAY...

Walter Norris Duo ~ From Another Star

6 Months Ago Today

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