Two Paths
Recently, I watched a friend arrive just moments before a class he has taught for years was about to begin. He had simply lost track of time.
When he walked in, he didn't make excuses or try to pretend it hadn't happened. Instead, he smiled, acknowledged it with his usual wonderful sense of humor, and got on with the class.
As I sat there, I realized how many times I've done the exact same thing.
I've become so immersed in a project that I've forgotten a meeting, mixed up a start time, or even shown up at the wrong place. Judging by the smiles around the room, I suspect I wasn't the only one who could relate.
What struck me wasn't that my friend almost missed his class.
It was how he handled it.
Years ago, a friend who was beginning to notice the occasional forgotten name or misplaced item shared something I've never forgotten. She said there are really two paths when those moments start happening.
You can worry about them.
Or you can laugh, learn from them, and move on.
I've always loved that advice.
Over the years, I've realized I'd add just a few thoughts of my own.
First, own it. People generally don't expect perfection, but they do appreciate honesty. I've found that admitting our humanness often builds more trust than pretending we never make mistakes.
Second, learn from it. If there's a way to avoid repeating the mistake, whether it's setting another reminder, writing something down, or simply slowing down, it's worth making the adjustment. Correcting the problem gives me confidence that I can move forward instead of dwelling on it.
And finally, extend that same grace to others. We've all had moments where life got ahead of us. A little empathy goes a long way.
By the end of class, I wasn't thinking about the fact that my friend had almost been late.
I was thinking about how much I admired the way he showed up.
Many of life's lessons aren't revealed when everything goes according to plan. They're revealed in the moments when things don't, and in the grace, authenticity, and humor we bring to those moments.
My favorite teachers consistently remind me of that.
-Tony
