Mistakes are common place enough. I personally try to make at least 12 a day. Without them, I would be such a boring person. Stuck in a rut, an old rut with nothing knew ever crossing my path. Life could be one straight course. But where is the fun in that? Mistakes are those sudden gust of wind that knock us off our feet, blow us away from the path; the detours and pit stops and wrong directions that make a trip memorable. I remember my favorite road trip was when I was 17 years old and my family was driving 4 hours to a job interview for my Dad. We thought it would be a fun little day trip, an adventure to a new town. Well, it was an adventure. That much is for sure. We were ready to go, but our old red suburban had different plans in mind. Apparently that was the day when the thermostat decided it had had just about enough. It took us nearly 5 hours to get there, stopping every so often to let the engine cool. When we arrived we had a good afternoon playing and picnicing while Dad was in his interview. No one was especailly happy at the circumstances that brought us to that place, we had all grown up in our hometown, we loved it, I was about to start my senior year at the school I had attended since first grade. But still, the thought of a fresh start had a certain appeal, a foreign and new aroma that excited the senses and imagination. I was intrigued. Then we began the journey home. The longest car ride of my life, metaphorically speaking. We stopped every 20 min to let the engine cool. It was a hot sticky drive, the circumstances were miserable. Anyone who had driven that stretch of highway between Davenport and Waterville nows how long and boring that straight stretch of highway is, with nothing but desert and fields as far as the eye can see. But despite the circumstances, it was the most fun. We sang and laughed and cried and whined the whole trip together as a family. We were so happy despite what was going on. I know my parents were very grateful for their kids that day. They were stressed, their car was breaking, they were trying to figure out what was best for our family. And I know that the greatest gift we as their children can give them, we gave them that day. We were happy.
Mistakes happen all the time. Never try to cover them up. Don't make excuses. All you are doing is avoiding the inevitable. It is far better to admit mistake then to cover it up. That only makes it a crime. I acknowledge my faults, my weaknesses, I make so many mistakes. But I also find myself apologizing and worrying, and trying to fix things a lot. So in this way, I am not worried about my mistakes. I know they come. That is how I learn, and sure maybe it takes me making the same mistake over and over, but I will learn. And until then I will just continue to apologize to those who are affected by my mistakes. And I will gladly forgive the mistakes of others. We are all together in this life, and we all make mistakes. I have made to many. But "our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do." There is one friend in particular who I feel has been affected by my mistakes. I would like to say I'm sorry. This friend has always been very accepting of my mistakes, and has let me learn and grow through them. I think of that friend as I write this, and I pray they can forgive me.
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