It's okay to be human

I've been thinking about how unforgiving the world can be when we make mistakes. Some days it is hard to be 'human', to be imperfect in a world that expects you to be perfect and get things right... All. The. Time.

I remember my daughter coming home feeling bad about herself, but also frustrated because she felt as though she had been unjustly dealt with by a teacher at her school. It was the first time she had forgotten her homework, and she had been 'disciplined'.

I felt her pain.

Everyone forgets something from time to time, even her teacher - it's human. I empathized with her because ultimately, she didn’t do anything wrong, she just forgot, one time. She did something that was perfectly imperfect, she was human.

This world does not always offer us grace or second chances when we’ve made minor mistakes. We’ve been taught through our environment, that we should strive for perfection. Yet perfection is never satisfied. Perfectionism leaves us with low self-esteem, beating ourselves up because we are trying to reach unrealistic standards.

So today, stop and take a moment to think about the times when you have made a mistake. How bad was it really? Maybe you’re embarrassed? Yeah - me too! But guess what? You’re still here and we have both grown. Don’t be afraid to try knowing it’s okay to fail and be human.