Sunday 27 April 2008

You have got to be in it to win it

no less

A while ago I told you about how I won a Hollywood pack. Well, its started me on a journey of entering competions which require written entries. I find it strangely satisfying writing 25, 50 or 100 words when I am usually so verbose.

Yesterday I got a box of Maybelline cosmetics in the mail. The competition was to come up with a name for a new lip gloss and give the reasons why. The real prize for me was creating ideas and having them accepted. And since I am a makeup artist from way back I have loads of makeup, most of which I do not even use, so the prize will go to someone who can use them.

It was a small thing in the overall scheme of things but it also reminded me about something I easily lose sight of - that competitions are a lot like living life. You have to be in it to win it.

We have to be fully prepared to enter the race to win. We can aim big or small. We cannot sit on the sidelines, just going through the motions wishing for our luck to change, scared of taking risks or facing rejection. Life won't come to us, we have to sign up for it. It is like a roller coaster, sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Sometimes we are lucky, sometimes not. Sometimes we completely come unstuck and other times we reach dizzying heights. But to reach those heights we have to be prepared to join in and risk the dangers. It's called taking a chance. Living your dreams. Living without fear.

You must learn day by day,

year by year,

to broaden your horizons

The more things you love,

the more you are interested in,

the more you enjoy,

the more you are indignant about,

the more you have left

if anything happens.

Ethel Barrymore - American actress



Picture - done by me.

5 comments:

  1. I really like what this post has to say. It is a message, I should be following. :)

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  2. Love the painting and love you, girl!
    I used to love entering contests.
    Have you ever seen the movie, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio.
    It is an engaging movie, based on true story about a woman in the fifties who was a contest jingle queen.
    I think you would totally enjoy it.
    Keep it up.
    Love,
    Jlo
    Ps. Love the painting from your sketch book.

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  3. Michelle - I think sometimes fear is the only thing that holds us back. The older you get the more you realise it I guess. Thanks for stopping by.

    Judi - Thank you for stopping by. You are an inspiration to me and many others. BTW I love your video posts. I am definitely going to check out that movie as well. Keep inspiring us and having fun!!!

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  4. Lilly, I have to admit I found out about "being in it to win it" far too late in life. I always had such a carefree attitude and I always thought "Oh, I'm so young, I have plenty of time". Oops! Where did all the time go? Man, if I could go back' but, then, I might be a totally different person, who knows?

    Love the post and the message. Keep it up. Take care!!

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  5. Hey Matt you are still young. the forties are the new 30s haven't you heard? Thats what I have been telling myself. Besides men age better than women (kills me to say it but it's the truth). If you are lucky you only have lived half your life. I just think sometimes we don't kind of start thinking about these issues until we reach a certain maturity anyway. But you should be carefree thats ok. Its just about being comfortable in your own skin and at least at the end of the day saying I had a real go at living. I am just a born coward about lots of things - my next post will discuss this very thing. None of us should take ourselves too seriously because we just aren't that important in the whole scheme of things. But saying that, I would like to be lying on my death bed (hopefully many, many years from now) happy with the things that really matter in life. OK when all is said and done I am obviously having a middle age crisis. ha ha

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Thanks for your comments.