The Do-Over

Today I made mistakes. 

I hurt someone's feelings. 
I wasted time and money. 
I said something I shouldn't have. 
I lost my temper. 

I was impatient. I gained a pound. I overslept. I wished someone ill. I treated someone unfairly. 

I broke a promise. 

I didn't mean to. I wish I were perfect. 

Thankfully,  I get to start over again tomorrow. 

“Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Collected Poems and Translations

mis·take

  [mi-steyk]  Show IPA noun, verb, mis·took, 

mis·tak·en, mis·tak·ing.

noun

1.

an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by 

poor reasoning, carelessness,insufficient knowledge, etc.

2.

a misunderstanding or misconception.

verb (used with object)

3.

to regard or identify wrongly as something or someone else: 

I mistook him for the mayor.

4.

to understand, interpret, or evaluate wrongly; 

misunderstand; misinterpret.

verb (used without object)

5.

to be in error.

It's so easy to make a mistake. If you're not making mistakes, you're not doing anything! You're not trying anything new or taking any risks. 

Humans make mistakes. I'm not saying that we shouldn't try to be better, but there isn't any value in beating yourself up for making a mistake. Just admit it, make amends and move on. 

I use the "undo" button on my computer all the time. It's not that way in real life. There is no "undo" button. You can't un-say something or un-hurt someone. There is no do-over button in life, but as long as there is breath, there is a new day. Do the right thing and embrace the

Be Authentic

"If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried."

Some of us are overly concerned with appearing as though we never make mistakes. First of all, everyone around us knows we are not perfect. And the closer they are to us, the more they know it. A mistake is valuable if we learn from it. If, in humility, we can admit our mistake, learn from it, make amends when we are able, we will actually become closer to those we are afraid of letting down. There is nothing more endearing than authenticity and a willingness to admit weakness and fallibility.

Who among us enjoys being around the "know it all," the "been there, done that," person or the one who has a comment about everything?

Is it not obvious that the person who must promote himself/herself so loudly has deep-seated insecurities?

I'm not saying that you shouldn't attempt excellence. I'm just saying that, in your quest for excellence, remain authentic, approachable, teachable, and humble, and you will achieve more than you ever imagined...whether you fail or succeed.