Have you ever seen something that just changes the way you feel? Something that hits you emotionally and makes you rethink yourself? Well, I did and the funny thing is, it was a whale show that did that for me. It made me believe in myself like never before.
Sometimes I tend to let my past failures bring me down in the present. Take my education for example. It was me that everyone KNEW would graduate. While everyone had hoped my brother would, they had their concerns because he had taken a partying path, etc. But you know..he DID graduate and we were all so proud of him. But you know everyone was quite disappointed when I dropped out of high school, the first week of my junior year. The rest is history but not a day goes by that I don’t regret it. Especially when I’m at certain events and everyone who is introducing themselves say they have a bachelors degree in this or that. It brings me down every.single.time. Not so much because I failed myself but because I failed my parents and now my kids.
I know that I’m smart, maybe not as smart as those who have the degrees but I’m pretty dang proud of what I accomplished and I know how hard it was for me to get where I am. Even so, it is that piece of paper that will weigh on my shoulders, always. It will be those 2 years I didn’t get to spend with my friends or the senior prom that I will never live out, that will forever be in my mind.
So as I sit there watching this whale show and watching the story in it, I began to cry. I don’t know why really except that it made me feel like I CAN DO ANYTHING. It made me want to go home and tell my kids that there are so many opportunities waiting out there for them, if they just take the chance and embrace what comes there way. And I did go home and tell them that. And they asked if I was okay. lol I told them I was okay and to, “just remember to believe”.
I’ve already said thank you to SeaWorld and wrote a post the Manta Roller Coaster but it was the “Believe” show that stole my heart so I want thank you again because as we get older, we sometimes forget that we can still accomplish so much more , if we believe.
(Taken with iphone) The Believe Whale Show
See the guys at the top of the whales? Amazing really. Yeah, I know I shared this already but you get to look at it again!
I told you that show would get to you! So glad to read about the great time you had. SeaWorld is magical in what it can inspire in everyone.
Shellie @Military_Moms last blog post..Father’s Day Gift Guide – no need to break the bank
We’ve talked about this before, and you know my take on it. You have no reason to be ashamed at all! You’re far more intelligent than many people that have Master’s degrees even, so I’m glad to see you’re finally starting to “believe” in yourself.
It was very moving, it wasn’t just you!
To Think Is To Creates last blog post..More Than A Decade
You, my friend, are worth so much more than a sheet of paper. I am glad that darn whale made you cry, since I know what a hard a** you tend to be. Wish I coulda been there to cry with you!
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Lori, you know there is so much more to life than education!!! I really hope you don’t get down on yourself too much because some of the most loving, caring, SMART people I know didn’t graduate from high school :) My mom was one of them. She went back to get her GED, an Associates and a Bachelors Degree!
Seeing her do that didn’t impress that education was important (she *encouraged* that in other ways). Seeing her go through all that she did to get those things showed me that initiative, perseverance, sacrifice and passion was what mattered most! Those are traits that that molded me as her daughter. You have those same characteristics. No validation on paper is necessary! And, you certainly haven’t failed your kids! Hello – having your son pay for a car with money he earned says a LOT! :)
Oh, and if you really want to go back to school, it is never too late!
Don’t ever feel ashamed of yourself. Everyone has something they wish they had done differently. The world is full of people who didn’t graduate, but they’ve returned and finished high school and on to college. You’re successful now, but set your education as a goal and achieve it slowly.
I’m sure your children don’t view you as a failure and they will support you. You’ve achieved so many other things in your life including give birth and raising them. As parents, our love is unconditional and I’m sure your parents feel the same way.
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Hi Lori! I had to comment on this post!! I dropped out at 16 to get married, to get away from my devout Catholic parents. But, I went back and got my GED. and although I don’t have a college degree YET, I will. I agree with the ladies above when they say that there is more to life than education. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s what you do with those learning experiences that makes the REAL differences. You are smart and beautiful and so is your family. I would encourage you to go back and get that diploma though, it will show your children that you can set your mind to anything and Do it! and you will not believe how empowered it will make you feel! :-)
I’m glad that Sea World could do that for ya. I used to love going to the one in Ohio, but it’s closed now. I’ll take my kids there someday, but which one? ;-)
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This is an awesome post girl, you are so witty and write so well, you just keep yourself hoisted up there girl.
Oh Lordy…don’t we all have regrets? I dropped out of college my second year and have only started going back two months ago. It is never too late if that’s what you truly want. But take it from me…to get an education (especially one that costs money) simply because it is expected of you is no way to get one. You need to want it.
I love the Sea World show…The Man Beast calls it sappy. I just love it – and yes, I get teary eyed, too.
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I think intelligence is what you know outside of school. Anyone can parrot back info and get an A in a class. My boss has a bachelors and 2 masters and she can’t even make a copy on a copy machine or decide whether to save or throw out a piece of paper. You can always go back and get a diploma, degree, or whatever. She will never be smart lol
Boy, can I relate to this! My nemesis was not finishing college. I remember having a dear friend at a job tell me, “I thought you were just a secretary because, you know, you don’t have a BA.” OUCH, as if there’s such a thing as “just a secretary”. (That was the proper title for it back then!)
I look at your blog and I’m so amazed that you can feel this way, but just last week I got a compliment and I rejected it too! We can do anything, long as its in God’s will and those degrees are just pieces of paper. Not worth much in today’s economy anyway. Thank you for being so honest and sharing.
Its amazing how sometimes you write a timely post about exactly what I was feeling = and thats exactly what you’ve done here!
Thanks, its so inspiring when you know someone else out there has felt the same and has that awakening.
Thanks, totally totally fanatstic. x
I think everyone, no matter how “educated” they are, feels they could’ve done more or should’ve done more in life. One thing I’ve learned, is that no matter how much education you get, it has ABSOLUTELY NO INFLUENCE on whether you will be successful(and happy, btw). That is all in the hands of the person…are they creative? Are they a self starter? Do they play well with others? Are they passionate about what they do? If a person is all of these things, then they truly can accomplish anything. And from just reading your blog in the recent weeks, I think you’re one of those kinds of people. Thank you for being so honest. Keep your chin up! We all know you ROCK!
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