Next year, in 2014, I am not going to make a single mistake.
Yes, it is true. I actually made that resolution. No more mistakes. I will do everything right. My world will be in order. My decisions will be sound. My reactions will be measured. I will think before I speak.
I will be absolutely careful in all areas of my life. And thus I will shield myself from pain, I will envelope myself in good fortune, and I will be bathed in light and joy and laughter from here to eternity.
And as you lie on the floor laughing at the insanity of my resolution, know that an hour after I made the resolution, I figured that out for myself.
Not make any mistakes. Not. Make. Any. Mistakes. Can you imagine? How on earth can I stop myself from making mistakes? How can any of us stop ourselves from fucking up?
I have made a thousand mistakes over the past 45 years. I have smashed my car, yelled at my children, worn a pink drop-waisted dress with puffy sleeves. I have said some ridiculous things in public, and even stupider things in private. I've disclosed way too much to the wrong people, and held back from speaking up when I should have had a voice. I've shed buckets of tears for people who weren't worth it, and taken way too long to discover the people who were.
I've misjudged and over-reacted. I've spoken without thinking and under-performed. I've acted on impulse and overthought and done pretty much everything in between.
I've been wrong a thousand times or more and it has led me right to here.
But here is not a terrible place at all. Here is quite a lovely place to be. And even if it wasn't nice it wouldn't matter, because I can't stop myself from making mistakes. I will never be perfect. You will never be perfect. Life will never be perfect, for any of us. All we can do is plough on and lead the best lives we can, day by day by day by day.
And stop making utterly ridiculous resolutions. Now that's one mistake I won't make again.
Love love love love LOVE this. It's often in our mistakes - and our responses to them - that the beauty (and terror) of being human lies.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a brilliant 2014, mistakes and all.
Xxxxxxx
Great post Kerri! :) Let us all continue to live our wonderfully imperfect lives being our imperfect selves! It's what makes life worth living. And laughing about! :D
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in resolutions - you're always setting yourself up for failure...
ReplyDeleteI beleive in new year aspirations - things you will aim for, but even if you don't quite hit the mark, at least you've moved closer to your ultimate goal...
And let's face it Kerri... if none of us made any mistakes, what would we all have to blog about! ;)
To err is human, to fuck up completely and yet still get the kids off to school in the morning, now that is superhuman! ;)
ReplyDeleteI was so worried when I read the beginning of this post. Thought I had lost you completely xxx
ReplyDeletePrecisely.
ReplyDeleteNever, baby!
ReplyDeleteLOL. Thanks Robert.
ReplyDeleteAin't that the truth, JJ
ReplyDeleteThanks love x
ReplyDeleteYES x
ReplyDeleteYou too Froggie xxx
ReplyDeleteResolutions are silly xx
ReplyDeletemaking a resolution was the first mistake. Better to resolve never to make another resolution.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine where I would be without the mistakes I've made - and am making. Each one has indeed brought us "here", and made us who we are. I am comfortable with that (and me) and I somehow suspect that when it comes to you - you are as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat?! It's quite okay for other people to make mistakes but terrible to read that I will never be perfect... Wish we could see a pic of that pink dress. Happy hols and here's to no new year resolutions. x A
ReplyDelete