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Pride
by Phyllis Heitkamp

The dictionary tells us that pride is: “ Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, a possession or an association.” It also says that it is: “Arrogant and disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness. ” OK, so what is it? Is it both? Perhaps it all depends on whether or not it has to do with the positive side of pride or the negative side.

Today I am filled with pride of association. That is the positive side of pride.. When one looks around and sees wonderful things happening to those around us, it makes life seem to burst at the seams.

I can take absolutely no credit for any of the wonderful things that I am viewing but still the pride of knowing the person that is in the process of creating all of this makes me feel over joyed.

We all do little things that make us feel good but what happens when we watch others doing these little things and making them work?

If I were forty years younger, perhaps that pride would be filled with envy but it isn’t. I don’t want to accomplish what I have witnessed these past few days. It is like watching a new bird falling out of a nest and find out that it can fly.

We all have talents that we haven’t tried yet. How do you know that you can’t sail, unless you try it? How do you know that you can’t paint unless you try it?

Every few years I get on a painting kick and take my paints out and start a project. If I were to make a decision about painting after creating only two pictures, I would come to the conclusion that I can’t paint. It usually takes about about seven paintings to get back the skill that I know is there. Where I am not afraid of the paints and apply them with a vengeance.

Most people try something, and after giving it a small amount of time, decide that they are not able to do that. When in fact if they would continue, they might find that they were rather good at it.

So when I see someone that is working very hard at something and finally does it, I am filled with joy.

People tell me that I have a lot of talents. What I have is a lot of curiosity. I want to know if I can. Can I learn to do something well? We all can learn to do something well if we give it time. OK, so there are some things that we would rather not have to give that much effort to, but if we would work at it, it would amaze us.

The last couple of days I have watched a student reach out to grab for the moon. She has been collecting stars for a while but now she wants the brass ring that is on the moon and she got it. She has worked very hard to get to this point. Her life has been full of struggles but I am not sure that she noticed them. She has always thought that everyone’s life was like hers.

Yes, I am filled with pride today. The pride of association and I am so glad that she has allowed me into her world. When something like this happens, we must feel honored to be invited in.