Sunday, January 21, 2018

When does determination become a detriment?

January thaw arrived this week. Today was partly sunny, breezy and about 69 degrees. We went to the river park to walk the short circular trail. There were so many people out walking their dogs. One couple was even walking their cat. Well actually, they turned the cat loose at the edge of the Mississippi River, and the guy said to the young woman, "He'll be fine. Let him do his thing while we eat lunch."

Bill and I watched the tug boats move barges up and down the channel and into shore. Sitting there reflecting on that activity made me think of how many times in my life I've tugged, when I should have pushed, shouldered my way forward, nudged myself to keep going, determined to succeed or MAKE something happen.
 I wondered, when does determination become a detriment? How many times have I tried to make something happen, to no avail? How many times has the very thing I was struggling to achieve or acquire happened regardless of my interventions? I have discovered in my life everything happens when it is supposed to, and if it is supposed to.

Your thoughts?

7 comments:

Val said...

I agree. You can make efforts to help something along, but it won't happen unless it's meant to happen. Of course, you may be MEANT to make the efforts, even though they are unsuccessful.

Sandi said...

I think so too.

Susan Sundwall said...

Linda, how easily you read my thoughts. This gloomy day of rain, ice and dirty snow has my mind going in the direction of "you need to work harder, longer, smarter." Sigh. And then I get a bag of chips, a glass of wine and watch the rain. Life is funny that way. =0)

Susan said...

Hi Linda. It's true that we can be determined to make something happen and sometimes our determination pays off. But other times, it's to no avail. I think that happens because the thing we wanted to happen just wasn't meant to be. Guess the Master of the Universe knows better than us! ha! Take care. Susan

Connie said...

I think determination is a positive force, but I also think it is OK to ease back and take a break once in a while. It gives you a chance to see things from a new perspective and to think things over.

Pat Wahler said...

I think we'd drive ourselves crazy if we took the blame for everything. If it's meant to be, it will be.

www.patwahler.com

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

The most frustrating thing for me is the inability to know whether I should "let go" or "never give up." I don't want to waste my time and energy on things that will never succeed in spite of my efforts, but neither do I want to give up too soon and suffer regret. How does one know the difference? That's the question that makes me crazy.