PEOPLE: Rejection

Very strange day, today. The thought of rejection brings giant luna moths flapping around in anyone’s stomach, and luckily, it’s not a routine occurrence for any single individual. Today, I witnessed the rejection of three people, and how each handled it is an exercise in character study. Although to be completely fair, all three placed themselves in the position of facing possible rejection, and that alone demands a good deal of strength of character, ego, and confidence.

I very seldom watch any television lately, but wandered in on the last 15 minutes of whatever that show is called with Donald Trump where contestants vie for a spot in The Don’s empire by rising to challenges to

test their capabilities and thinking. In the end, one must face both a full table of their peers as well as Trump himself and a couple of henchmen and be summarily dismissed–fired, all plans and dreams destroyed in a few terse and honest words from the boss. Well, tonight’s bozo didn’t take it graciously. If he’s not an actor, he’s real good at the “if looks could kill” facial expression. I was a little worried, but I’m sure there were a couple of heavies right out of camera range. The thing is, if this scenario was for real, the man clearly didn’t see himself for the jackass he was–yet everyone else did. So, I guess he gets points for self-confidence, and I don’t see him as one who will ever blame anything but Trump’s failure to see his shining qualities.

Our second rejectee was on The Bachelorette. Now I’ve seen Michele get rejected by Bob previously on The Bachelor. I liked her, and while I don’t fall for all of this completely, I do have some faith in her sincerity. She had to reject three out of ten men tonight, and she was having a hard time deciding. One of the men rejected, again, didn’t take it very well. Possibly a planted actor, I don’t know, but with his reaction, I don’t think he’s going home to a flock of women who will be just dying to get with him.

Now these two above individuals knowingly faced rejection on national television. Our third rejectee is a very happy writer. He’s part of the Narratives group I mentioned, and he’s a damn good writer (I think you can check out his work on Creativectomy). Why is Jason taking it so well, and why is he willing to post about rejection when he could have kept this to himself? Because he has developed far enough as a writer to be thrilled about feeling confident enough about a piece to submit it. And, the rejection slip that we’re familiar with had an extra little note on it expressing praise for his writing.

Interesting, isn’t it, how the same situation is perceived by different individuals.