Better Than a Stick in Your Eye…

Well, it’s better than a stick in your eye…

That was a saying my grandmother used to say. Pretty often as a matter of fact, and when I shared that with my online marketing bootcamp group here in Tasmania, they were shocked.

What? How could that be a saying in America, these Aussies asked?

I’m not sure if it a saying or not, I just know that my grandmother was tough.

Born in America in Pittsburgh of Croatian immigrants, she didn’t learn english until she went to school at the age of 6. She had dropped out of school by 12 to go work in the factories (think Heinz ketchup) and raised money of her 6 siblings as she was the eldest female at home when her mother died.

It was a tough life back then.

Her life sure made problems of today like “Oh my internet is too slow” of “Oh my car is now 2 years old and I have to get a new one” seem frivolous.

It did make me research the phrase to find out it’s origins. Seems the “correct” saying is “Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick or Better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick.” Seems to be a bit of controversy in a few of actual origins as some say it goes back to Homer’s Odyssey and others swear it’s only an english language tradition back to the 19th century.

Although having a sharp object in the eye is the leading cause of traumatic blindness around the world. And I did just have a nail fly out of board and hit me in the eye, apparently only a flesh wound though as I’ve recovered quite well in the last 10 days. Maybe that’s what made me think of it…royalty free images eye

Anyway, the point I was trying to make at the time, was there are many alternatives to what you’re doing now that would be far worse… Sometimes it’s OK to keep going along the same path you’re on until you wait for a better path to manifest.

So with all the hoopla about self improvement and constantly getting better, the fact is that it can often make people feel worse about themselves, that they’re “just not good enough”. Sometimes it really is OK just accept who you are right now. And surrender to the notion that you “ARE good enough”, and practice being grateful for that.

Grateful for who you are RIGHT NOW.

Grateful for who you are being every single day.

Grateful that you can choose who you associate with.

Grateful that you can choose to dream big.

Grateful for all the experiences that have lead you exactly to this point.

I am very grateful that having a sharp nail in my eye didn’tdo any permanent damage!

I am grateful that the injury has slowed me down a bit to attempt to “see” things in a different light.

I am grateful that I have been blessed with so many wonderful experiences and friendships that make my life such a rich tapestry.

What are you grateful for?

And why?

I would love to hear your answers…

Please feel free to share them in the comments below.

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