Mistakes
“You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.” ~Marc Chernoff, Marc & Angel Hack Life
We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t make mistakes. At some point, we’ve all messed things up, made spelling errors, burned the dinner, turned the wrong way, blurted something offensive, and hurt someone’s feelings. Nobody leaves this world flawless and error-free.
Problem is, some people will do anything to avoid admitting a mistake, hoping it will miraculously disappear if they pretend it didn’t happen. (Translation: Their self-image is more important than your feelings.) Then there are the folks who always manage to screw up a good apology with an elaborate justification of why they made a particular mistake. Butt-covering is never as classy or mature as owning your mistakes, saying you’re sorry, and making the repairs.
As today’s quote suggests, there’s a valuable lesson in every mistake we make. Mistakes are a growth opportunity; a chance to revise or start over. We’ll never be perfect, of course, but we can do better. ~CL
Cindy La Ferle
Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.
