Random Thoughts n' Lotsa Coffee
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • J.V. Manning
  • Contact

Live & Learn.

3/24/2013

8 Comments

 
Perfection is a myth. 
The only perfect thing about us is our perfect ability to make mistakes. 
~J.V. Manning

The other day I was in my kitchen just finishing up lunch. As I got up from the table to take care of the lunch debris my mind was mulling some things over and I put the milk in the microwave and my leftovers in the cabinet. I would like to say that I noticed my mistake right off. But I can't. Truth be told it wasn't until a few hours later when I went to reheat a cup of coffee that I found the milk.  I can't blame a senior moment- I am only 35. I can't blame it on anything really, so instead I laughed. A real deep belly laugh and continued on with my day. Wasn't the first time and sure as hell won't be the last that I do something so incredibly stupid.  Like for instance making a pot of coffee and forgetting to put the pot underneath so that the coffee goes EVERYWHERE. Or forgetting there is a door to my office when I get up to make my way to the copier and walking into it. The door has only been there forever. Or maybe the time when I forgot to put the cover on my travel mug and poured hot coffee all over the front of myself.

Apparently I am human. Therefore I make mistakes. 
Picture
Usually when I have one of my "Jenn Moments", as my husband calls them, it is witnessed by a bunch of people who all ending up laughing- at me. I could berate myself for my missteps; call myself names and beat myself up for being dumb. I could. But I don't. Instead I laugh at myself and shake my head. Swear that I will stop daydreaming and focus more on the mundane tasks I have before me. But I don't. 

We are human. Being human means we make mistakes. We trip over imaginary cracks in a parking lot and fall flat on our face. We miss our mouth when eating and get stains on our shirts. Sometimes we forget things. Sometimes we burn dinner. Sometimes we make “grammer erros” and typos when writing or mix word order up because we are thinking faster then we can type. We sometimes say things out loud that we only meant to keep as thoughts and sometimes we put the milk in the microwave instead of the refrigerator where it belongs.  

Sometimes we make mistakes.

Big ones. Little ones. Funny ones. Oh! No! ones. Mistakes come in all shapes and sizes. There are relationship mistakes. There is morning after mistakes. There is having too many margarita mistakes. The I-should-have-tried-harder-mistakes. There is the blowing your budget mistakes and the fighting with your friend mistakes. The not admitting when you are wrong mistakes. I could go on- but I think you probably get it.

Perfection is a myth. The only perfect thing about us is our perfect ability to make mistakes. We make mistakes that hurt. Sometimes the mistakes we make have some serious repercussions. We make big mistakes that cost us emotionally, mentally, and monetarily. We regret them. We go over and over what we should have done differently, said differently, and how we could have reacted differently. We second guess everything that led up to the mistake and allow the coulda-shoulda-woulda to take over. We berate ourselves for our mistake. Vow to make it right or vow to never do it again. It eats away at us and causes fear. Sometimes we let that fear take over our minds and control our actions. We allow the fear to stop us from trying again because we are convinced we will make another mistake. We fear saying sorry. We fear owning up to our mistake. Often choosing to walk away from the fallout of what we have done because it is easier then admitting our error. We blame others. We find excuses and in turn; fail to see what it taught us. We fail to see beyond the mistake to how it can make us a better person
Failing to own the mistakes we make in itself is a mistake.

Once I walked out of my house and pulled the door closed behind me. It was locked. No one was home and there I stood on my deck, no shoes on, looking into my home knowing that unless I shattered the window- I wasn't getting back in. I was furious. Furious at the door, the lock, and the unfairness of it.  I had things to do and places to go. It wasn't part of the day I had planned. I was angry at everything- but myself. I wanted back inside to something that my mistake had locked me out of. I did not have a secret key or magical power to make the situation go away. I wasn't going to break in. I had to suck it up and walk a mile in my socks to where there was a spare key.

I made the mistake. I had no one to be mad at but myself. But instead of standing there wailing at the injustice of it all. I pulled myself up and did what I had to do to make it right. It was painful- walking a long stretch of road with no shoes on. It was humiliating to have to ask for the spare key because of what I had done. But in doing so I was let back in.

Same thing goes with mistakes in life. We have to own them. Stop making excuses and do what we have to do to make it right. We have to laugh at ourselves. We have to stop being so quick to point out the mistakes that others make and focus only on the ones we make. No one in the life is perfect. No one will ever be perfect. So why do you berate and hate on yourself so much when you make a mistake? Making mistakes means that you are living your life. Your life that is not defined by your mistakes. Your life is defined by how you handle your mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes that we make are disguised opportunities. Opportunities to find ways that work, ways to become better or stronger and opportunities to get it right.

Those that can laugh at themselves will never cease to be amused. Those that can own their mistakes and become better for them- will never cease to be respected. Stop beating yourself up when you make a mistake. Learn from it and let it go. Carry the lessons your mistakes have taught you but leave the mistake itself behind. 

Live and  learn then- let it go. 



8 Comments
Debbie link
3/24/2013 05:31:59 am

I love your lessons or teachings, they are so inspiring. I agree our mistakes are disguised opportunities.........if we let them be........this is a lot to digest, so I will read it again, Ty Jenn. Xo

Reply
Random Jenn
3/24/2013 07:58:43 am

Debbie you are so sweet to say that. Thank you. I appreciate you reading and commenting. I like looking at mistakes as opportunities to do better. If we allow them to teach us instead of holding us back.

xoxo
Jenn

Reply
Nena
3/24/2013 09:07:46 am

I love this best: "Those that can laugh at themselves will never cease to be amused. Those that can own their mistakes and become better for them--will never cease to be respected." Wiser words were never spoken (or written!) Thank you for the insightful advice. It's now in my journal of things to remember.

Reply
Random Jenn
3/24/2013 10:30:55 am

Thank you Nena!! I love comments like yours. They inspire me to dig even deeper and write more :) I feel very privileged to be in your journal. Such an honor. ♥

Best,
Jenn

Reply
Sue K link
3/25/2013 04:55:55 am

This was the perfect message for me to read today. I love how effortlessly you transform the happenings of your day to day world into the brilliance of life lessons. In the end, of course, it's all good! It's just a matter of how long it takes us to come back around to that loving assessment of life. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us!

Reply
Random Jenn
3/25/2013 10:23:30 am

Sue!!

It does my heart good to read your comment and knowing that it was the perfect thing for you to read today ♥ Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to tell me such wonderful things :)

xoxo
Jenn

Reply
Annie link
3/27/2013 05:12:37 pm

I love your post especially because I am letting go of my need to be perfect thanks to some positive affirmations. Its only been two days but I can already see that I am starting to relax more. Some of my biggest mistakes have been what have made me grow and become a better person. Its the little daily things that get ya!

Reply
Kim link
4/19/2013 06:16:49 am

Wow. This should be required reading for every teen in America (especially the girls!). I am (ahem) years old and I still forget this whenever I make a mistake and I make a lot of them! Thanks for the eloquent reminder. I'm putting this on my fridge!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.



    Picture
    Please Support
    ​ JV Manning's work and keep her in coffee ♥
    Venmo: @JVManning

    ©JVManning 2020 All Rights Reserved


    Picture

    Archives

    November 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011

    Picture

    •Terms of Service 
    •Mental Health Disclaimer • Privacy Policy
 Terms of Service  •  Privacy Policy
© Random Thoughts n' Lotsa Coffee  & Caffeinated Inspirations  2010-2021
 All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • J.V. Manning
  • Contact