Rejection has been the greatest of gifts to me. Let me make my case:
I was rejected in high school and college from any of the elitist clubs. Never asked to join a fraternity. Had no fraternity pin to pin any girl with, which was tantamount in those days of being nobody and nothing.
I never was elected to any student body office. I was rejected by the Wyoming Bar because initially I failed the bar exam – the first honor student to do so. I was rejected by the people of Riverton for a judgeship and by the University of Wyoming as a law professor. The voters of Wyoming rejected me when I ran for the United States Congress. Publishers have rejected some of my books, which made me a better writer.
As I look back on my life I realize that had I been accepted at any of these stops on the play-board of life my life would have been vastly different, and I wouldn’t trade who I have become (whoever that is) for any judgeship, seat in any law school or one in the Congress for that matter. By having been rejected by those who I wanted to take me I have, involuntarily remained free, which has been the greatest gift of all. Those who rejected me knew best. I owe them great thanks, and by this writing acknowledge my debt to them.
Gerry
