7 things I’m inclined to think I should say about my life…
- Drank for 25 years without regard to the consequences to me and my family. Ended up a washed up recovering alcoholic
- Never lived life to the full – met my now wife when I was 18 and we’re still together 33 years later
- I’ve been a failure at work finding myself in my 50s disillusioned and only working part time
- Never achieved much within my worklife mostly just feeling like I oiled the pointless wheels of the machinery
- I never did enough with my music having not managed to break big at all
- Lack of ambition – I never moved away from my home area, I live 0.5 miles from my birthplace still in the same parish of many ancestors
- Never achieved much academically – i.e. I’m not a college graduate
7 things I could say about my life…
- Was able to get into recovery despite a long term dependence on alcoholism. Have 10 years continuous sobriety and I am a respected member of my local recovery community
- Able to sustain and maintain a marriage and family for 30 years despite all the maelstrom of life around us including both my drinking and my recovery
- Been brave enough to admit to needing to change career direction later in my working life and make courageous moves to achieve this change.
- Worked for over 19 years for one company, rose to position of significant responsibility and collaborated on important projects that delivered needed medicines to ill patients. Considered valuable enough at current employer they agreed to my part time request rather than lose my expertise.
- Have two international selling albums of all original material recorded – all bar one track totally written, recorded and performed by me. Won the Rock-Till-You-Drop Outstanding Achievement Award in 2010
- Stayed true to my roots and continue over 200 years of connection to the local community
- Despite not having a degree progressed in a complex technical environment many peers held degrees or PhDs. Granted chartered status in my profession due to my track record of achievement. Landed a job with considerable responsibility with a leading university working alongside senior academics daily.
It is all a matter of perspective isn’t… same life, same facts, different interpretations
Guitars and Life 
Reblogged this on club east: indianapolis and commented:
Oh, man… We all could use a little of this.
I love this…for so many reasons.
Thank you,
Sherry
I didn’t know you were going to counter the first seven set of facts with the second seven. As I read them, I drafted a blistering comment lambasting your shortsightedness. I had to delete it when I saw that you came to your senses.
I love this too. A metaphorical tilt of the head and things can look so different. A shift in perspective…I’m going to try it! Thanks for sharing.
When I read your first list, I got terribly concerned for your unfairly harsh view on yourself. Thank goodness you’ve found a better perspective.
However, I think one reason for my initial alarm was that I too reflect on my place in life in an often cruel way. It’s pointless to tear myself to shreds, especially as I have done a lot to pull myself out of some muck. I can move forward and should focus on that, but berate myself on the past.
Yes. This. ALL OF THIS!