I make a lot of mistakes. I’ll admit it. When I write, I can sometimes get carried away and forget to add a period here or a coma there. I may type at such a furious speed-the thoughts coming into my head faster than my fingers can record them- that I’ve been known to misspell a word or two. Really. I am being serious.
When I go shopping for clothes, I tend to forget that I’d be a size 8 instead of the size 4 I want to be; so I buy clothes that don’t quite fit the right way. I keep them in my closet anyway in the secret hope that I will wear them soon enough, once I get started with this fabulous exercise plan I have been promising to go on for months. Always with the promise that tomorrow I will start, for real this time. Really. I’m being serious.
When I go to the grocery store, I am often guilty of shopping by sight-which means that everything looks so inviting that it ends up in my shopping cart practically automatically and not necessarily… invited. Being surrounded by such delicious food displays, I am struck with the incredibly unrealistic inspiration that I can transform myself into Julia Childs overnight, when I don’t even know how to boil water. So what winds up happening is that I have a kitchen cabinet fully stocked with exotic foods that I will never eat. I have faith though. I will eventually get around to masterfully simmering these yummy chicken thighs in pumpkin seed sauce without burning the house down. Really. I’m being serious.
The point is-mistakes do happen and I’m guilty of making them-lots of them. But, come to think of it, mistakes are good things. Besides the fact that I can learn from them (I can almost see my own kids rolling their eyes as I write these words), I think we can also enjoy our mistakes.
For example, the other day I had some friends over and, well, the wine was flowing . Perhaps I may have indulged myself to a little bit more than I should have. Yes, it was a mistake, one I paid for dearly the next morning; but did I enjoy it? Absolutely! Why? Because I had a great time with my friends and I laughed like I haven’t laughed in quite a long time. I needed that.
So, yes I may get carried away when I dance at a wedding or raise my voice a bit too much when I am really excited about something but I’m not afraid to put myself out there. You should never be afraid to make mistakes. It makes life exciting and interesting. Besides, if all else fails, one can always use spell check and order Chinese take-out to fall back on.
What do they say again-to err is human? I’ve got that one covered.
Erin