“I’ve learned a lot this year… I learned that things don’t always turn out the way you planned, or the way you think they should. And I’ve learned that there are things that go wrong that don’t always get fixed or get put back together the way they were before. I’ve learned that some broken things stay broken, and I’ve learned that you can get through bad times and keep looking for better ones, as long as you have people who love you.”
The harsh truth of the matter is that the universe owes you nothing. You can set your goals, make your plans, and head out on what might appear to be the ideal path… only to fall flat on your face with copious amounts of mud in your eyes. Life is hard and the things that break, through your fault or otherwise, may never be mended. Regardless of the prevailing circumstances, as author Jennifer Weiner proclaims above, you must get back up and forge on.
Perhaps best known as a a fiction writer from Philadelphia, Jennifer Weiner really exploded onto the public stage when she became a very vocal critic of the publishing industry. More specifically, she draws our attention to the apparent gender bias in the media. Weiner says that male authors tend to receive far more coverage, getting highly praised for their more emotional works in particular, whereas the equivalent work of their female counterparts is written off as simply “chick lit.”
Gender inequality aside, Jennifer Weiner reminds us that even when you are faced with hardship, even when things don’t “turn out the way you planned,” you must remind yourself of what’s good in your life and continue on your journey. You must remember to sing and dance in the face of adversity, understanding that life is not a race and it’s not about the destination.
You may remember last year when I shared a similar sentiment. Life is an adventure. And adventures come with their share of challenges, difficulties and detours. And the experience that you gain from these adventures is thoroughly enriched by the people who accompany you on your journeys. You can derive strength from their companionship, just as they can derive strength from yours.
That’s how you can “keep looking for better” times. Together.
Even if your goals and target destinations may differ.
In addition to authoring books, Who Do You Love being the most recent, Jennifer Weiner has also developed a TV sitcom (Stage of Georgia), adapted her work for the big screen (In Her Shoes), and written articles for such publications as the New York Times and Good Housekeeping.
Image credit: Rachel Kramer Bussel (CC BY 2.0)
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