Postponement is Not Failure

Jena Ball
2 min readOct 9, 2020

“I haven’t failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. — T. Edison

I have a thing about failure. Except in rare cases, I don’t believe in it. An unsuccessful attempt at anything, whether it’s tying your shoe or starting a business, isn’t a failure unless you fail to learn from it. And, as any musician will tell you, there is really no such thing as #1 when it comes to songs. Each person has his/her own unique voice and style and is an invaluable contributor to the larger story we’re telling.

The paragraph above was written by me for me as I struggle with the need to postpone “The Hug Felt Round the World.” Here is what I’ve learned:

· If the thought of a hug felt around the world has helped even a few people know they are not alone, then I have succeeded.

· The Hug Felt round the World is bigger than me Accomplishing its goals will require a team of committed professionals. I must build a team that not only cares but is capable of helping me execute as well.

· Trust must be earned.

· If the price of help is drama, walk away.

· I am not superwoman. It’s ok to ask for help.

So…although the Hug Felt Round the World will not happen this weekend, I want everyone to know the concept and my commitment to it is not going away. Also,

· The Tree of Life containing the thousands of names we have collected is still here and still accepting names. You can visit and submit names in Second LIfe at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dark%20Side/221/186/24

You can also submit names by filling out the online form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyOAJ5YZatkrWf84m-tKic8rmXUOpeQNzxQC3V8_hIgXfFiA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&gxids=7628

· You can still support “Feed a Smile” by visiting the venue and touching the donation boards: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dark%20Side/228/161/22

If you would like to be part of The Hug Felt Round planning group, send me a message or an email. I’ll be in touch.

Finally, many many thanks to those who gave so generously of your time and energy. If you haven’t received it yet, please contact me for your virtual Hug Felt Round the World t-shirt.

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Jena Ball

I’m a multimedia storyteller. My latest project, Braided Lives, brings people together to weave the stories of their lives together.