The Art of Fail

The stories of our endeavours will forever remain to adjudicate their own worth.

As a member of Vocal Social Society, and a content creator on Vocal, I would like us all to take a moment, to just breath in the joy of sending our work out into the world, and a breath out to expel all the doubts that can begin to take root when we lose a challenge.

Attempting to compare our work to winning selections is a thankless task. One I would like to point out is unfair. Unfair to ourselves, and unfair to the selected winners. Of course firstly, to ourselves, as our reflections of self love are truly measured by our pride in our most beloved masterpieces.

Remember comparison is the thief of all Joy.

Secondly, how can you, or anyone truly measure or absorb the volumes of genius that most assuredly cross the desks of our beloved Vocal Curators?

The spirit of competition is strong in many of us. Personally, I am not competitive. I will compete but I am not driven by the need to win. This comes from a history of failures. A history of striving and falling short, a history of falling and getting back up, and a history of learning that falling is not the hard part, but getting back up can be. Operative words, CAN BE.

Not to say that it isn’t; difficult things are inevitable in the world we live in. Steadily rising, taking aim and releasing the arrows of our intent, time and again, requires the stability of an Olympian.

Recognizing our uniqueness as a joy and a blessing is, for me, a valuable tool in the art of getting back up, dusting myself off, and carrying on. With practice, the interruption of failure becomes an inconsequential blip in the radar of our lives. It becomes an opportunity for refinement. After all, isn’t failure truly the act of making no attempt at all?

Of simply sitting in a defeated state?

Every successfull person will tell you of countless efforts towards their goals, before finally reaching that holy grail of intent.

In the Immortal words of Aaliyah

Vocal is an absolutely stellar platform.

Great presentation, great tools;

(thank you Vocal for quick edit and now subscribe!!).

Not only is the presentation magazine quality, we are not bound by the content driven world of publication and their desired material.

We are literally free as birds to create and present, as we see fit- our thoughts ideas, dreams, visions, and goals. Vocal has provided us with our very own soap box and megaphone. How many people hear your voice is directly connected to the foot work, passion, intent, as well, frankly, endurance of your mission.

Are you focused with impunity on winning? If yes, what is the prize? It must, in my opinion be more than money. In the heart of a writer lies the lions roar of human expression. The voice that will not be silenced, that insists on standing and shouting

“Here I am universe, here is what I have learned”

I joined Vocal for the Litte Black Book challenge and have entered 90% of the challenges since. Some with multiple entries. I have yet to land a top story, or a challenge. Yet, here I remain driven by my love for written expression that cannot be squelched by the lack of award.

The Reward is simply stringing phrases together, perfecting the art of syntax, and setting loose the imaginations of those who read my work. Also to lose myself in the ever engaging realities presented by my fellow creators, whose intrepid journeys have brought them here-synchronistically, serendipitously, alchemically; drawn to express, to endure, and declare what is living in our hearts, and minds, to the world at large.

This is a tortoise and hare experience. One where the tried and true will emerge victorious in the end. Challenge win or no challenge win, the passionate and the engaging will prevail.

Vocal is like a diving board. A place where we stand nervously, preparing to jump into the unknown dangers of transparency, alight with the intent to inspire and encourage, terrify and inform, heal and release, all the multitude of sorrows, stories, and victories of humankind.

What more significant win is there?

With Love

Sarah St. Erth