Failure

Here are a few things I've heard about failure that I find helpful:

Fear of failure keeps us stuck.
This has happened in a lot of situations for me.  When I don't know exactly the right way to help a child it sometimes stops me from trying anything.  If I try something,
at least I gain information on whether that thing works or not!

You never fail unless you quit trying.

Albert Einstein

This can sound a bit harsh in some circumstances.  I took violin lessons for a year.  It hurt to play because of neck and shoulder issues, and it was really hard!  I learned quite a bit, but in the end decided to stop playing the violin and stick with the instruments I have.  I do not feel like I failed just because I stopped playing the violin.  I learned quite a lot, including how impressed I should be by good violinists!  I did fail to become a great violinist myself, but I succeeded in trying something new and learning quite a bit!

Failure = Information

If we have "failed", it can show what we need to work on,

or practice more,

or what doesn't work. 

Failure is success in progress.

Photo by Ian Kim on Unsplash

Take Time To Be Silly

Ok.  So most people don't ever want to be thought of as silly, maybe because one definition from the Oxford Living Dictionary is "Having or showing a lack of common sense or judgement; absurd and foolish."  I doubt any of us want to be defined like that!  But another definition, this one from the Cambridge Dictionary, says silly is "not important, serious, or practical".  I think that occasionally it is good for us to do things that are not considered "important, serious, or practical."  It is important to enjoy something.  To have fun.  To laugh.  To let go of worries and just be.

I write about this because I am not always good at letting go of trying so that I can just enjoy being.  I think a LOT.  I am always trying to find ways to be better, to do better, and to accomplish good things -- but being silly can be a good thing.

A few years ago I asked for a puppet for my birthday, and I got one.  Her name is Princess.  I did not imagine what asking for a puppet would start.  I now have a whole puppet tree full of puppets, and a bag full that don't fit on the tree, and puppets on all of our bed posts.  My family, the occasional friend and I have done puppet shows in Primary on Sundays (Can Princess choose the right?).  We have done puppet shows at Cub Scout pack meetings, at home, at reunions and at family parties.

No matter how many puppets I have, or how many shows that I do, I always seem to enjoy being Princess the most.  She is the silly, vain, funny part of me that I allow to show a lot easier with Princess doing the talking (in her best high pitched squeaky voice).  I have some really good memories associated with these chances that I have had to be just a little bit silly!

Life is important, and can be very challenging, and hard.  Life is also good, and happy. Taking time to be silly, to let go of trying for a while and just enjoy being, can bring joy to our days.