A few days ago, I got to stand pretty close to the edge of the Grand Canyon. I couldn’t get too close – because, looking down into the canyon, I literally felt woozy and lightheaded. The immensity of the depth of the Grand Canyon is terrifying and awesome to behold. It also made me start thinking about what would happen if someone stood too close to the edge – leaned back to take a selfie and whoops.

Apparently, there have been falls at the Grand Canyon where people have plummeted to their death. One article said, “She was, like, stepping out of the way for another gentleman to kind of squeeze in, and unfortunately … just kind of got tripped up on her own feet and fell backwards, fell into the canyon,” I can’t even begin to imagine that kind of a stumble.

Needless to say, I didn’t get too close to the edge. I admit that I am kind of a klutz.

There have been other times when I have stumbled. I stumbled on ice when I was a kid and got a fat lip. I stumbled and fell on glass when I was a pre-teen and got a cut-up knee. I even stumbled going up the stairs at my own wedding. Guess, I was in a hurry. BUT – these are all literal stumbles, what about the stumbles that are more figurative?

Figuratively, I have felt like I have stumbled when I didn’t pass an exam. I have felt like I stumbled when I yelled at my kids when they were younger. I felt like I have stumbled and fallen flat on my face – when somebody I knew and trusted stabbed me in the back and turned their back on me. That feeling of stumbling makes me feel like a failure, a wash-out, a what’s-the-point-of-going-on-miserable-depressed-wreck.

As much as I would like to forget those moments of figuratively stumbling – maybe, reflecting on them can be a good thing. I was reading an article in my Flow magazine, The Beauty of Stumbling and the author wrote, “stumbling forces us to stand still for a moment and think about why something didn’t go well.” 

So? Where does stumbling and scrapbooking relate? Scrapbooking allows us that opportunity to stand still for a moment, to reflect on that time when you stumbled and then it helps you remember all the good things you learned. It allows you to look back at your accomplishments and realize that HEY!! I did that!!! 

A scrapbook layout I did when I received my first running series award. 

A stumble is just an obstacle that we trip over during our Positive Journey of life. And after we stumble – we pick ourselves up, we look back at where we were and then we turn around and keep on going. Because – there is a whole lot more life to live and new accomplishments waiting for us to achieve.

So…scrapbook those memories, reflect on your past, look back at the moments you stumbled, tell your story and then get back out there and accomplish new goals and achieve new successes and never forget that YOU are the one who did the work to get you to where you are now.

My first 5k ever!!!

Plus, scrapbooking is so much better than crawling in bed and eating your emotions with pizza and ice cream. Don’t ya think?

Positively Debbie,

Stand tall…and don’t stub your toe.