The Law of Unintended Consequences …

or … ‘If something can go wrong, it will!”
but hopefully I’m learning all the time!

PhotobucketI’m fully aware that being a perfectionist creates problems and limits productivity.  Knowing this truth, I’m trying to lower my expectations and allow things to be ‘good enough’ … however doing so with any consistency has been far from easy. I suspect that trying to explain my recent actions here today will be confusing to most readers (who don’t get into the technical side of blogging), but I intend to try … perhaps simply to make sense of it all for myself and ‘fix’ the lessons in my mind so I won’t repeat these mistakes any time soon … yet I’m aware that this post may be yet another manifestation of my perfectionist tendencies.  Such is life!  Giraffes must think while they’re ruminating, right?

Animated Giraffe

Returning visitors might notice there’s no longer an ‘s’ in the name of this blog. That’s because I’m the ‘giraffe’ here and this is my journal.  I’m pleased to say I managed this name change all on my own just a few minutes ago … albeit, the hard way I might add because methinks I’ve discovered a simpler way just now.  To continue with my story, a few days after starting this blog I realized there could be some confusion down the line once I get my Labyrinth Journal website & blog up and running because Giraffe Journals ended in ‘s’ while Labyrinth Journal did not.  In retrospect, the simplest solution would have been to purchase the domain ‘labyrinthjournals.com’ and have it ‘point’ to labyrinth journal.com … (leaving Giraffe Journals as it was).    Photobucket
I wish that had occurred to me sooner since I believe there would have been no ‘unintended’ consequences to that option since the website isn’t yet available … yet since I’m the only one ‘journaling’ here, the ‘singular’ title does feel like a more accurate choice … so perhaps all’s well that ends well.

What I did instead was purchase the domain ‘giraffejournal.com’ to match the original (singular) labyrinth domain name.  Then I changed the original ‘giraffe’ URL with an ‘s’ to the new one without the ‘s’ … and had the domain with the ‘s’ redirected to the new ‘singular’ URL.  That SHOULD have been the end of it.  Trust me … I fully understand if you’re thoroughly confused at this point, but I thought I knew what I was doing at the time, and Lisa at GoDaddy tech support assured me people made these types of changes all the time.

MY confusion (not to mention panic) started later Friday afternoon when I realized the blog was visible and accessible to visitors, but I had no administrative access … so I couldn’t publish anything or approve comments.

Initially, I assumed that GoDaddy tech support would help me work through and resolve the problem, but unfortunately the first guy I spoke to at tech support (who shall remain nameless) didn’t know much about WordPress hosting and (with hindsight) I realize he didn’t fully understand what had happened let alone how to fix anything.  His only suggestion was to uninstall and reinstall the WordPress hosting for the new URL, but I knew enough to realize I’d lose everything I’d already published along with the associated comments if I followed that course.  I hung up the phone with a heavy heart, kicking myself for foolishly pushing the edge of the envelope to make things perfect yet again. (I know that no one treats me as badly as I treat myself at times, and I’m working on THAT too!)

To shift gears, I decided to take Molly for a walk and mull things over on my own … a habit I’ve perfected over time when confronted with seemingly impossible challenges.  Eventually it occurred to me that changing the URL back to the original domain with the ‘s’ just might put things back as they’d been and give me access again.  When I returned home, I called GoDaddy tech support hoping someone there might remind me how to make that change.

Fortunately I encountered Rick who not only listened to my request but understood clearly what I’d been trying to do.  He went the extra mile (using considerable resourcefulness and uncommon patience) to walk me through the lengthy, complicated process which ultimately restored my administrative access at the new URL, encouraging me all along to just stay with it and not give up.
I am grateful!!!Photobucket

Asking for help has never come easily to me. As I share the details of this experience, I’m reminded that I need to continue to ask for what I need for as long as necessary … believing I’m worthy and that help IS available. I do wonder if I’m the only one who falls into these obsessive kinds of traps, and when I’ll be able to release the need to be perfect … because I do know that ‘Perfect is Boring’ … thanks to Stephen Manes who wrote a delightful children’s book entitled How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days, illustrated by Tom Huffman.  I used to read it aloud to students each year while I was teaching.  If you’re not familiar with the story, methinks you can read it online here.

Thought for Today
(found in my online Page-a-Day Women Who Do Too Much calendar)
“I’ve always grown from my challenges, from things that didn’t work out. That’s when I’ve really learned.” Carol Burnett
“Success may not always look the way we thought it would.
Gleaning the learnings can make every failure and success more successful.”
Anne Wilson Schaef

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6 Responses to The Law of Unintended Consequences …

  1. Mary says:

    I wonder if we were separated at birth….yupper perfectionist behaviors and attitudes are in my DNA. Also the experience with techie’s sounds familiar. I’m unbelievably grateful when one of them can speak slowly enough (usually English is not their first language) for me to understand and wise enough to fix the problem.

    I have fun reading your endeavors.

    Mary

    • Virginia says:

      Mary,
      Perhaps we were 😉
      I learned recently from a ‘hand-analyst’ that my ‘soul’ agreed to be born into a family in which I didn’t belong, and the sister I grew up with can attest to that! I love the phrase ‘sisters separated at birth’ and have felt that way many times in meeting others. I’m so happy to know that you ‘have fun reading’ here! Thanks so much for letting me know!
      Hugs and blessings,

  2. Karen says:

    I’ve just finished reading all the entries of this new adventure, and all I can say at the moment is, wow. Just…wow…

    I’m moved by the personal stories (oh I love personal stories) and inspired by this great leap you’ve taken with your journals. Omygosh…published…you’re going to be published!!!

    I’m just going to sit here and bask in the reflected glow for a while…

    • Virginia says:

      Karen,
      You know how I feel about your own Journey to Authenticity so your comment (and reading how you sat here ‘basking in the glow’ for a while) means a great deal to me. I have trouble realizing I’m going to be published, so it’s fun to have that reflected so I can share in the excitement all over again as I type my reply here. Currently, I’m devoting considerable time to clarifying who ‘my specific audience’ is and what’s my ‘niche’ because that’s going to help me select the ‘flo po’ pieces to include in this first book. (I’m assuming there will be other books for different audiences eventually). Thanks so much for helping me FEEL the delight all over again!
      Hugs and blessings,

  3. LOL LOL LOL I LOVE the giraffe video! Gave me a great chuckle and a big smile! And I’m so proud of you! I’ve learned so much over the past two years on my own sites. And I’ve probably learned twice as much from the mistakes as anything else. So now you and I are both much smarter than the average giraffe! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Have a blessed day!

    • Virginia says:

      Kaye
      Thanks so much for checking out my new site after dropping by Happily Retired Gal. I appreciate your enthusiasm and sense of humor so much. You’re so right that we often learn more from our challenges & mistakes than our successes. It’s reassuring to keep that in mind. Hope you’re having a WONDERFUL weekend!
      Hugs and blessings,

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