It was a typical Friday where I came to my scheduled study session with a member of the community. Unfortunately, after waiting an hour to meet, he had his secretary let me know that he could not attend me, as more patients were arriving, and he had another meeting to go to. Hearing those words took me back 30 years ago when I was a child.
I had a relative that used to drive for hours just to spend Shabbat with us. One Shabbat he said he was coming, but we let him know that another relative had taken his spot. On Friday he came anyway, only to be rejected at the door. We made arrangements for him to spend Shabbat elsewhere, but that was the last Shabbat he ever came.
Learning to handle rejection is something that needs to be taught to our kids, whether it is with board games, role play, and schooling, or day to day life. If they are not taught young, then as adults they will truly struggle. We all do not want to fail, but it is really the first step to success. As once we know what failure is, we know what success feels like.
I just need to go back to that community member, just like you need to go back to something that you feel you have failed on.
