Thank you Jo for reminding me of Nietsche's Amor Fati; recently I had some pastoral care encounters with people ridden by guilt and shame, and Amor Fati sounds very apt.
I remember the smell of the poster paint, we'd mixed ourselves, at primary school and painting for the Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund competition in the big school hallway. Winning said competition and meeting Dame Sybil Thorndyke for tea. My mum was delighted, I just thought she was a sweet little old lady. Thanks for leading me to a jolly little memory. Always a joy. xxx
I had a school drawing recognized by a teacher. It embarrassed me a bit because I didn’t think it was especially good. Still, the fact that an adult paid extra attention to my effort boosted my confidence and helped me feel I could get along in the world.
Ooh, good question. I think it was a big boring hospital building, lol, with large lettering (guide lines drawn by Mrs. Reay my teacher) for the all important wording "Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund". We entered every year and I was lucky enough to be amongst the finalists a few times and mostly met Lord Mayors doing the presenting but the first 2 years were Dame Sybil then Eamonn Andrews :-)
I may be a bit behind, but glad I took the time to read this post. I was unfamiliar with amor fati, but in a way I think it fits with my own approach to life.
At some point in time, as I lay in bed kicking myself for the hundredth time for something I did in high school, I asked myself why I was beating myself up over something I could not go back and change. Yes, it was an unfortunate choice. Yes, I did a bad thing to someone that did not deserve it. No, I can't change it. So, what do I get out of revisiting it? Absolutely nothing. (cue rumbling noise as the shift takes place)
Now, I see mistakes I have made. I have admitted to my kids that I could have done things differently. Do I regret it? No, I don't. It is part of me and has had a part in making me who I am today, someone I actually like very much. If I had not had those moments, would I have learned and grown as much as I have?
It's like learning to walk. It takes practice and patience. We fall and get up. I read in a book, recently, about how many times a toddler falls in an hour. Some huge, unbelievable, number. If we don't fall, we can't get up and perfect our technique.
I can't say I really love my regrets, but I can say that I see them as mistakes along the journey, not so much as regrets.
Thank you Jo for reminding me of Nietsche's Amor Fati; recently I had some pastoral care encounters with people ridden by guilt and shame, and Amor Fati sounds very apt.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
I remember the smell of the poster paint, we'd mixed ourselves, at primary school and painting for the Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund competition in the big school hallway. Winning said competition and meeting Dame Sybil Thorndyke for tea. My mum was delighted, I just thought she was a sweet little old lady. Thanks for leading me to a jolly little memory. Always a joy. xxx
Poster paint had a very distinctive smell that hung in the air. Can you remember your painting? Innocent days ❤️❤️
Thought provoking post, Jo. I passed my driving test at the third attempt, too.!
I had a school drawing recognized by a teacher. It embarrassed me a bit because I didn’t think it was especially good. Still, the fact that an adult paid extra attention to my effort boosted my confidence and helped me feel I could get along in the world.
Ooh, good question. I think it was a big boring hospital building, lol, with large lettering (guide lines drawn by Mrs. Reay my teacher) for the all important wording "Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund". We entered every year and I was lucky enough to be amongst the finalists a few times and mostly met Lord Mayors doing the presenting but the first 2 years were Dame Sybil then Eamonn Andrews :-)
Did Eamonn have his big red book 😄❤️
Hahahaha, he could have done "This Is Your Life" on me but it wouldn't have taken long, I was about 6.
Oh, now I remember. I made the building into a money box and had coins falling into it. hahaha
Teachers can be powerful in many ways xx
Thought provoking, as always ☺️
I may be a bit behind, but glad I took the time to read this post. I was unfamiliar with amor fati, but in a way I think it fits with my own approach to life.
At some point in time, as I lay in bed kicking myself for the hundredth time for something I did in high school, I asked myself why I was beating myself up over something I could not go back and change. Yes, it was an unfortunate choice. Yes, I did a bad thing to someone that did not deserve it. No, I can't change it. So, what do I get out of revisiting it? Absolutely nothing. (cue rumbling noise as the shift takes place)
Now, I see mistakes I have made. I have admitted to my kids that I could have done things differently. Do I regret it? No, I don't. It is part of me and has had a part in making me who I am today, someone I actually like very much. If I had not had those moments, would I have learned and grown as much as I have?
It's like learning to walk. It takes practice and patience. We fall and get up. I read in a book, recently, about how many times a toddler falls in an hour. Some huge, unbelievable, number. If we don't fall, we can't get up and perfect our technique.
I can't say I really love my regrets, but I can say that I see them as mistakes along the journey, not so much as regrets.