Bring on the Cheese!

WARNING: The following blog post may be cheesy. Approach with caution.

I try to avoid highly sentimental and/or cheesy blogs, because I tend to think that people don't really like to read about other people's epiphanies (or maybe just mine). But I'm in a grateful mood so I felt like sharing some perspective.

For those of you who know me, you probably know that I try very hard to avoid making mistakes at all costs. Not that anyone tries to make mistakes (I don't think anyone does anyway...), but I really HATE making mistakes. Most of the time I feel like mistakes are avoidable. If you know that you shouldn't do something, it's usually pretty easy to acknowledge that beforehand and not put yourself in a bad position where you are likely to make a mistake. But, while mistakes are often hurtful and typically avoidable, they do have one quality that I appreciate: Mistakes are educational. If you make a mistake, you are being given the opportunity to learn from it. The guilt or dissatisfaction that you feel after making a mistake is sometimes enough to keep you from making the mistake again, and that is a wonderful thing about life. You will not be condemned for every mistake you make, only if you fail to learn from the mistake and use your knowledge in future endeavors.

Some mistakes are bigger than others and harder to rectify, but if handled properly, you may be able to show people that what you did really was a mistake; one that you will do your best to never make again. In order to correct your mistakes, you must acknowledge that it was in fact, a mistake. Some people are unable to do this, and it takes them much longer to learn their lesson. One of the hardest things in life to do is to admit that you were wrong. People do NOT like to be wrong, and they especially do not like to admit when they're wrong. If you are able to admit it, however, you will reap the rewards. You will earn the respect of your peers, co-workers, teachers, and family members if you are able to admit your errors and do your best to fix them.

I am grateful that my parents taught me to be honest, and to admit my mistakes. They also raised me not to regret things, but to learn from them and make the best of all situations. I am grateful for those lessons above all, and for the kindness shown by those who have forgiven me for the mistakes I've made in my life. As much as I hate to admit that I have made mistakes, I am willing to do so because I've learned from them and they will make me a better person in the future.

I hope that you all are as lucky as I have been in my life, and I hope that you're able to forgive yourself for the mistakes you've made in your life; because if you can't forgive yourself for your mistakes, how will anyone else?