It happens to everyone, sooner or later.  Someone or something lets you down, dashes your hopes and dreams.  You may get over it quickly, after a long while, or not at all.  But the truth is, when things don’t turn out the way we expect, it’s often a blessing in disguise.  Did you dodge a bullet yesterday, last month, or years ago?

The first example that comes to mind is a failed relationship.  Someone you love, decides that they don’t love you. It may happen gradually, over years.  Or you’re totally blindsided.  One moment  you’re happy and content , the next minute you’re getting dumped.  Unless you got married right out of high school, you’ve probably experienced  at least one episode like this.  And yet, when it’s finally over, and you’ve gone on with your life, you  realize the person wasn’t right for you at all.

Here’s how  the urban dictionary defines  Dodged a Bullet:  “When you come close to dating a person but for whatever reason it falls through, and then later find out that person is batshit crazy,   you’ve  dodged a bullet..

Ok,  the person wasn’t crazy, so that doesn’t apply. .  But you may look back and realize you actually had nothing much  in common, or the one you loved was emotionally abusive.  It may take a long time, but you finally realize it would never have worked out well.

The next big downer is getting turned down for a job.  When you’ve written a great resume, and sat through a seemingly positive interview, you’re confident you’ll be offered a position.

And then, you hear nothing back.  Or you receive a tersely written letter  that they’re sorry to inform you—you didn’t get the job.  And they don’t even leave the door open, asking you to keep on applying.  This is almost more of a blow to your self esteem than the failed relationship.  What did you say or do wrong?  Was there spinach on your teeth?  Doggedly, you keep trying, not getting your hopes up again after the next  interview.  And all of a sudden, you land a dream job with a great  organization.  After you’ve settled down,  you look back and feel immensely grateful that you got turned down after that first job interview. .  It wasn’t about you—it was on them.  Their loss.  Ha Ha.

Did a business deal fall through?  Someone stand you up for an important  meeting? Miss a plane that ended up six hours on the tarmac? .  The  next time you’re feeling upset  about a rejection or missed opportunity,  remember this:  You may have  dodged a bullet.