Rejections

Hello Universe 206

I was speaking today with someone about rejections in a professional context. Having written once about this topic, I found this to be a conversation that I could engage in deeply. This conversation inspired me to write about rejection from another point of view - that old saying - “when one door closes, another opens.” So that's what today's poem is about.

Alright, poem starts in 3… 2… 1!

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You stand there, bewildered and bemused,
like a child who just has been refused
entry to a room where you want to go
because you heard the dreaded "No".

Oh, how you hate that little word!
The tiniest sentence ever heard.
Yet somehow, yes it can deflate
your ego to a senseless state.

But here's the trick you haven't learned yet:
when one door slams (and makes you fret),
when one door closes (and locks, and bars),
your eyes adjust to see more stars.

When one door closes in your face,
you suddenly have more time and space
to notice all the other doors still ajar,
some nearby, maybe some quite far.

You're no longer wasting precious thought
on that one silly door that has brought
nothing but rejection to your plate.
Now you're free to navigate

the infinite hallways that remain,
without that single door's disdain.
Isn't it funny how a simple "no"
can tell you exactly where not to go?

When one door closes fully shut,
your story finds a different cut.
When one door closes with finality,
you discover new modalities.

You stand there, suddenly enlightened, amused,
like a mathematician who's just been used
to the wrong equation all along,
now knowing where the clue belongs.

So take that "no" and say "thank you,"
for clearing up what not to do.
Then turn around with newfound sight,
and choose another door tonight.

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Thanks for reading edition no. 206 of Hello Universe.

I've often had doors closed on my face, opportunities removed. I'm curious to know - what do you think of when you hear the saying “when one door closes, another opens.”?

Does it make you think of some experience you've had? Is there a philosophy of your own that you use to process rejection? Share your thoughts in the comments below with the Hello Universe community.

That's it for this week, see you next Tuesday!