There’s a song that I like to listen to when I confront the truth about my limitations: I will never be a professional athlete, world’s tallest person, or royalty of any kind.
Over time, these illusions are stripped from us one by one. Recognizing them requires the wisdom of experience and unflinching self-honesty. These truths can be painful at first, especially when they take us by surprise. Over time, however–if we accept ourselves and embrace our truth–these realizations become our guides. Reality imposes limits, which force us to grow toward our natural strengths. The only suffering is caused by our resistance.
The song is “These Days” which was written by Jackson Browne, but I love the cover by Nico linked below. One stanza that is particularly relatable as an atypical goes:
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
And all the times I had a chance to
That part always catches my ear, but it’s the last line of the song that really hits me in the feels:
Please don’t confront me with my failures
I had not forgotten them
Let’s embrace our limitations, accept who we are, and remember that we are capable. We are aware of our failures and refuse to let them define us. They are teachers. Let’s not fling them at each other like weapons. It’s hard enough out here! Instead, let’s use awareness to grow stronger. Keep pushing if that feels right, or find your true direction, but do it with acceptance and the joy of discovering your perfect self.
And if you need a moment to feel melancholy about what might have been, that’s OK too 🙂