Welcome to Musing Interruptus; a place of reflection and sometimes irreverence. Thank you for listening and sharing your answers. Also, thank you for liking and sharing the podcast, to all 46 of you. I am very lucky and grateful. Today: Mistakes or Life Lessons? Read along if you find it helpful.
I am thinking of a cartesian plane to organize the mistakes or mishaps (an unlucky accident) in life. Where do mistakes come from? Whether it is ignorance, lack of perfection or plain and simple humanity. Mistakes happen. Sometimes we walk right into them, with our eyes wide open, alarms going off, left and right. Others we are completely blindsided (unexpected). On the spectrum from ignorance to I meant to do that, I imagine all my mistakes. They can be on the x or horizontal axis. I’m not sure what I would put on the “y” axis. I might need your help on that one. Maybe the degree of shame and the ripples (small waves in consecutive circles) the mistake makes in your memory. Heading towards minus infinity on the y axis might take us to an altogether different plane of experience, it might be the pre-experience plane. But I digress (speak of something different than the main subject).
Mistakes, some have made a few, I’ve definitely made more, countless mountains of faux pas (embarrassing mistake in a social situation), I’ve put my foot in my mouth (to say something without tact and foolish), swallowed my words, gotten red in the face, broken things…I’ve accidentally made cigarette holes in car interiors, twice.. sent messages that were better off in my diary, forgotten to do things, gotten caught looking in the wrong direction, overshared, and under shared. I’ve overstayed my welcome and given too few hugs. That’s life, right? Live and learn.
How we approach life and mistakes makes a difference.  I think it would be wise to learn how to make mistakes so they become learning experiences and life lessons, instead of the causality to punitive measures. I mean, within reason and the law, of course. When it comes down to brass tacks (the basic facts), it is not that easy to break the law in a heinous manner. No, this is not a challenge. Do not unsheath (take the sword out of its case) that sword, yet. I’m really focusing on the mistakes that feel a lot bigger than they actually are. What a horrid word, mistakes. What horrid people who revel in your mistake. It says a lot about them. Beware. Holding oneself up to extraordinary standards and expecting others to live up to them, with the sole  (only)  alternative of punishment, is downright sadomasochistic. Yes, it takes two to tango. I have so appreciated the people in my life who have reminded me that it is human to err  (make a mistake), it is the mark of great learners and success to have the humility to learn, execute, fail, and learn. Get back on the metaphorical horse, in some cases, it's a real horse. Whatever is in front of you, learn to ride and learn to fall. That not only takes the sting away, but it might also make for better living. The Judeo-Christian approach includes absolution. Why not allow that for ourselves. Get rid of the Y-axis altogether. Just live and learn, without the attachment of punitive measures, shame, and mental anguish. God, how I love the voices who made those moments alright, bearable, and even pointed me in the direction of learning. Those natural teachers. I salute you and thank you.
What have been your worst mistakes? Were they really that bad? Have you had an amazing teacher in life who has shown you to live, humanly? Do you help others do this? I’m listening.

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