A-Z Blogger Challenge 2016 - Rejection

I entered my very first online writing competition a few months ago. The prize for this competition was some money but more importantly, having your submission published online. I didn't expect to win, but eternal optimist that I am, I hoped. Stranger things have happened.

Today is the day the winner was announced, and sadly, my inbox remains empty.

I went online to check, and the winner's story was published.

It's not mine.

And yes, although I did not expect to win, I am still sad and disappointed that I didn't.

Rejection

re·ject

  [v. ri-jekt; n. ree-jekt]

verb (used with object)

1.

to refuse to have, take, recognize, etc.: to reject the offer of a better job.

2.

to refuse to grant (a request, demand, etc.).

3.

to refuse to accept (someone or something); rebuff: The other children rejected him. The publisherrejected the author's latest novel.

4.

to discard as useless or unsatisfactory: The mind rejects painful memories.

5.

to cast out or eject; vomit.

Rejection is one of the most painful things a person can experience.

I have had many rejections and while I do not consider myself an expert on this matter, I do have a lot of experience with it.

Rejection can be divided into two main categories.

1. Direct/Open rejection. You are directly informed that someone has refused to grant you something, recognize or accept something. Most commonly experienced when applying for jobs, to schools, when you're a teenager and it comes to friends, etc. Stings like hell, when it happens. But, surprisingly, one tends to recover quickly from this kind of letdown.

2. Apathy/Aloofness/Indifference. Most commonly experienced with matters of the heart. In my humble opinion, this kind of rejection is the worst, as it takes an unnecessarily long time to recover from. Sometimes, you just don't recover from it.

I wish that people would learn to be direct. Directness is considered one of my many flaws, but I consider it to be one of my better qualities. I am learning the art of tact, but I still am honest with the people around me.

It is better to let someone know where they stand, rather than to let them wonder...