I received a quote of the day recently and it really hit home with me. Take a look:
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."- Bill Cosby
It was one of those days where I looked at the screen and said WOW. That couldn't be more true about me most of the time. I know life is busy, it is for all of us. We get busy with everyday life and sometimes forget we are supposed to take time to stop and enjoy life for a bit. I fall into this category at times. My time at home is very limited and with daily routine of feeding the kids, baths, getting homework done, doing daily house chores done, it leaves little time. I do make a point each day to spend some quality time with them and ask how their day was, and help them with whatever they need.
I am also the people pleaser. I want to make sure everyone is taken care of and has everything they need. That also comes along with being a mom/parent. I have to make sure my kids have what they need before my needs are met. I make sure they have their food, drinks,napkins, forks, spoons, etc. before I even think about sitting down to eat. I take care of them first because I want to. I also take care of many other things before I take care of myself. Sometimes I have to be told to sit down and take a break, or that it's my turn for a change. I have always been a self-achiever and I will get the job done no matter what it takes. And I don't always try to put myself on the backburner, but it's life and it happens.
Back to the quote - to me, the most important words of that phrase are "the key to failure is trying to please everybody." So in my thought, does that mean if I try to please everyone, I will fail? Yes, yes it does. It is next to impossible to please EVERYONE in a group setting. Each individual has their own preferences so it is difficult to make everyone happy. I personally deal with this on a daily basis. And even though sometimes it can be frustrating, it's a part of life. One person cannot please everyone, no matter how hard they try. There always has to be that one person that wants to argue and create controversy.
There comes a time in life where you have to choose what is important and what is not. Will it really matter if the floor doesn't get swept until the next day? Will it really matter if the laundry doesn't get folded right then? Those are just a couple questions that come to my mind. I'm such a busybody and have trouble sitting still, so it seems as if I'm always cleaning or doing things around the house. But I also realize that not everything else is as important and some things have to be put on the backburner. What is important is my girls, my family and my friends. My kids are the most important thing in my life and they always will be. And they grow up so fast so I better take advantage of the time I can spend with them while they are still young. Sure, there are alot of important things that have to get done, or cannot be put off until later, and those all get done in time. This also applies to material things. After all, things are just things. If a tornado or flood comes and destroys our house, our things will be destroyed too. Things can always be replaced, no matter how important they are to us.
There also comes a time when you have to make decisions about who is important and who is not. Remember, you are the only one who can decide who you let into your life and who you do not. There are always people we have to tolerate whether we want to or not, but the decision of how much you let them into your life is yours. This goes back to the quote - you cannot please everybody. There are people who will tell you how you should live your life, what you should do (or not do), and people that do not agree with your decisions. But ultimately you have to live life as you see fit, and do what is best for YOU. And if people cannot accept things you do in life, then let them jump off the bandwagon. I despise judgemental people (people who judge others). Absolutely DESPISE people like that. The sad thing is if people cannot accept decisions you have made in life, it is their loss, not yours. There comes a time when you have to walk away from the people who have turned their backs on you, no matter how hard it may be.
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody". I believe the key to success is living life to the fullest each day, and to your best ability. Pray for guidance, follow God's word and signs when he sends them to you. Listen for direction and then go with it. Just live. Be happy. And most of all, be yourself. Do not be someone you are not because it will only end up hurting you in the long run. And I do believe the key to failure is trying to please everybody, because it is impossible. Unless you are a programmed robot and not a human being, pleasing everyone is out of the question. So please the ones who matter most, and do what it takes to keep yourself happy. It is best to keep yourself happy because if you aren't happy, then those around you will not be happy. Do what is best for you, and do not let others run your life. Make decisions that best suit you, not everyone else. Remember life is short, make the most of it while you can!
