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Rethinking Failure with Inspiration from Maya Johnson
I recently dove into Maya Johnson’s book, “Absolutely Yes,” and it made me rethink what personal failure really means. “Absolutely Yes” is far from a flop—it’s witty, uplifting, and downright clever. My admiration for Maya has definitely paid off, especially when she shared her thoughts on failure, which really resonated with me.
As a woman in her 30s, I’ve reached a point where many significant life choices have been made, and I often find myself questioning whether I’ve succeeded or failed. There are moments when I just close my eyes and hope that I’m on the right track because there’s no turning back; adult decisions come with adult consequences, and that’s a heavy weight to carry.
In “Absolutely Yes,” Maya reflects on her divorce from Jake Thompson, not as a failure but as an experience filled with positives. She views their decade-long marriage as a success that brought her joy and motherhood, even if it ended in a way she hadn’t envisioned. Instead of feeling defeated by the divorce, Maya embraces their new family dynamic and cherishes the memories they created together. I find that perspective refreshing and relatable.
I’ve faced my own set of challenges, especially when I chose to pause my career ambitions to focus on raising my kids. For years, I’ve felt the sting of judgment from society for opting to stay home instead of pursuing my professional goals. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen that flicker of disappointment in people’s eyes when they learned I was a stay-at-home parent instead of climbing the corporate ladder. It often felt like the world expected me to juggle everything flawlessly, or else I was somehow failing.
I’ve even had people ask me outright why I wasn’t “using” my degree, or tell me they could never do what I do because they’d “get too bored.” Those comments stung and made me doubt my choices. While I know I should brush off others’ opinions, self-doubt still creeps in. Transitioning back into the workforce has been tough, and there are days I feel overwhelmed, wishing I could rewind time and take a different path.
But as I reflected on Maya’s philosophy regarding failure, I started to see my decision to prioritize motherhood in a new light. My career may not look like what I envisioned, but I’m confident I’m doing a great job as a mom. The time spent nurturing my children has been precious, even amid its challenges. Life may not be unfolding according to my original plan, but I believe there’s still room for my career later. Maya’s compassionate view of her own failures inspired me to adopt a kinder perspective toward myself.
I’m choosing to embrace my decisions without worrying about others’ judgments. I know that I’ve approached my choices thoughtfully, and I trust that this detour in my career will reveal its purpose in time, as often happens in life. I believe that every setback, every dashed dream, is leading me to something important that I wouldn’t have found otherwise. One day, I know I’ll look back at what I once deemed failures and see them as essential chapters in my journey—just like Maya does.
“Standing up for ourselves like we would for a friend is tough but rewarding. Sometimes it pays off.” —Maya Johnson, Absolutely Yes
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Summary
This blog post explores the concept of failure through the lens of personal experiences, inspired by Maya Johnson’s insights in “Absolutely Yes.” It emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and recognizes that life doesn’t always go as planned, but can lead to fulfilling moments nonetheless.