quotes

Built to make mistakes…

Rolland Moore Park – 2014

Mistakes are at the very base of human thought, embedded there, feeding the structure like root nodules. If we were not provided with the knack of being wrong, we could never get anything useful done. We think our way along by choosing between right and wrong alternatives, and the wrong choices have to be made as frequently as the right ones. We get along in life this way. We are built to make mistakes, coded for error.

Lewis Thomas

I’ve written about the subject of making mistakes in the past so I apologize for once more rambling on about them. Or is that a mistake? Seems that somewhere in my youth I learned that mistakes were bad and I began avoiding them at any cost. School was one place where we were measured by how many mistakes we made. There have been multiple times in my life I failed to try or finish due to my fear of making mistakes. I do not remember being taught that mistakes were essential at improving. Having said that though, I will also admit I was a decent shot in basketball but only because I tried again and again each time I missed a shot. I also did not jump on a bicycle and ride the first time. I had to crash and burn more than once. Rather silly when I look back at it where I considered mistakes were not allowed and where they were. I believe Thomas is spot on when he states that we are built to make mistakes, in all areas of our lives. My growth towards any perfection or accomplishing goals requires me to make mistakes, lots and lots of them. My photography pruves that. So due my attempts at haiku. So does my attempts ar creating good blogging content. Hope you had a wonderful day!

Retired. Having fun with photography. Journal daily. Meditate daily. Learning haiku/poetry. Have a love for fountain pens.

10 Comments

  • Faye White

    Oh yes, the fear of failure; I know it well, unfortunately. Today, my motto is “I’m doing the best that I can.” 😀

  • Earl

    We don’t come into this world believing that honest mistakes, failures or anything less than perfect is bad; we are taught that. Our western society is geared towards the pursuit of perfection, often with a warped view of that goal. Look at current Social Media or consider the number of comedic plastic surgeries. If it is true that wisdom comes with age, it is significantly due to mistakes and failures along the way. And if it’s also true that we are built to make mistakes, then I was over-engineered. LOL
    I’m at the same point in my life as Faye, “I’m doing the best I can.”

    • Monte Stevens

      I also believe you are correct that we are taught failures are bad. I would much rather be considered wise than smart. I had to laugh with you because I hd never thought of being over-engineered. Then maybe that’s the way it’s intended to be. Aren’t we all doing the best we can?

  • Geri Oster

    Thank you all for your wisdom. I have been seeking in earnest to give over my deeply embedded “fear of failure” to my Higher Power. It is so encouraging to know that it is part of our shared human experience and can be diminished with time and experience. The basketball reference is particularly meaningful and helpful to me, Monte, and that GREAT and mystical picture reminds me of early mornings in summer practicing those shots over and over again at the school’s outdoor court! Bless you all and thank you.

    • Monte Stevens

      You said it well, our fear of failure and can be diminished with time and experience. Glad you like the image. I played a lot of my basketball career on outdoor courts and driveways as a youth. 😊