Let me start by saying that I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life.
BUT the thing is, I am grateful for those mistakes. Because if I hadn’t made them, I wouldn’t be where I am today…
If I hadn’t made the mistake of roller skating down a huge hill while also attempting to guide/ ride my bike, when I was nine, I wouldn’t have learned that multi-tasking isn’t always the best option. *Bonus: I also learned that a helmet does not necessarily protect a chin from being scrapped to the point of still having a visible scar seventeen years later.
If I hadn’t made the mistake of walking into the wrong art course the first day of a new semester, I may have never met the teacher who quickly became a mentor to me for the next several years.
If I hadn’t made the mistake of moving to a city that I had never even been to before, for a boy (who is now an ex), I would have never met my husband, who I’ve been with for five years now. And if I had never met my husband, I can most certainly say that papernstitch would not exist.
And if I hadn’t made the mistake of buying a house in a tanking real estate market (this was way before the bottom droppped out), I wouldn’t have… well I am not sure what the lesson is there just yet. But I know there is one.
What mistakes have you made and learned from?
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image via ffffound
17 comments | Click here to reply
I too have dealt with letting people hold me back in the past Margaret. And I won’t let that happen again. It can be hard to ignore other people’s thoughts and opinions at times, but I think its important that we all let that inner voice of ours rule.
papernstitch-Brittni
One of the biggest mistakes I ever made was letting what other people thought of me hold me back from doing something I love. I was a shy person (still am in most things) but have learned to ignore what i think others are thinking and be brave.
Doing something you want to do, for yourself is much better than living your life in the shadow of regret.
margaretAw, that is so sweet Jennie. Isn’t it great to know you have that kind of support behind you with friends and family?
papernstitch-Brittni
I love this post too. Isn’t it amazing how the smallest things that seem foolish at the time can turn into the best things of our lives? I have found that it is through the mistakes I’ve made my friends have shown how realy and wonderful they are. I didn’t even know how much they cared until they helped me get out of difficult situations!
Jennie {Clover & Violet}Aw, that’s wonderful to hear. So glad you connected with what I said. Hope you have a great day.
papernstitchBrittni
This post means too much for me today Brittni…thanks for share and give us a fresh air 🙂
Meme GalarceSo true Van…”There is just no success without taking risks. ” Thank you, as always, for sharing your story here on the blog.
papernstitch-Brittni
I completely agree with this. There is just no success without taking risks. You have to try and try again, you have to mistakes. I take risks and make mistakes all day (kind of part of the marketing gig).
Here’s the biggest “mistake” I’m grateful for:
Over three years ago now I quit my bill collector job, I hated it. I had no job lined up and lived on savings, working about three months straight submitting my resume at least a hundred places daily until I landed a gig as a writer. I was very young and inexperienced, but I sent writing samples and even built a complete website for them to show I had what it took.
It was a mistake to quit, I had nearly exhausted my savings, but now I make more than I ever have. If I would have taken the easier-to-get call center jobs I’d have been miserable and unfulfilled.
Thanks for the post. I’m going to try my hardest to see my daily mistakes as blessings now!
VanIf I hadn’t moved from California to Maryland for my now x- boyfriend- I would have never been inspired to move from Maryland to Europe-to run away from said x-boyfriend where I met the love of my life.
If I hadn’t stayed over my year visa- and gone home to the U.S… I wouldn’t be almost married now to.. the love of my life.
If I hadn’t stayed in Europe and gone home- I wouldn’t have been inspired to become the artist I am today.
and.. .non of my illustrations or photo’s would exist.
So cheers to breaking the rules, and doing exactly the opposite of what everyone expects us to do!
MurielThanks Julia. And TeaButterfly. I love have you have learned something from a mistake you made this morning! I hate over sleeping. But how wonderful that you were able to gain something from it!
papernstitch-Brittni
Wonderful post!
Just this morning, I made the mistake of oversleeping, which led to having a nightmare, which turned out to be a very interesting dream! This dream taught me where I stand between chilhood (sweet place, but can’t stay there forever) and the aching state of adulthood, where i’m heading to!
I’m right in the process of growing, and now I know it!
Vic from TeaButterfly
TeaButterflyVery wise.
JuliaThank you Mai and Mayi for sharing your stories. And Mai- maybe that is what I’ve learned from the house we purchased as well- how to fix things! 🙂
papernstitchthis is my favorite pns post for sure! i love that you get so personal with us brittni + so honest 🙂
i have made so so many mistakes in my life as well. at first it’s so so hard to talk about them. i think it’s our big egos preventing us to acknowledge how imperfect we are. but then, as time passes + we mature + we get older, the “mistakes” (or like i like to call them “missed steps” or “weaknesses”) all of a sudden become a special part of our historic memories + ever present reminders that we are strong + that we do learn + that we are alive.
Mayi Carles @ HeartmadeBrittni, I love this post! Very thoughtful; thanks for sharing a few of your life experiences with us. It’s nice that this post has a personal twist as well, and isn’t just business themed (though I could certainly share plenty of business mistakes.)
I selected the college I went to based on the decision of a guy I had a crush on at the time, who ended up going to a different college anyway. That was silly of me! But, it put the idea into my head, and I’m so glad I went! I met my husband there, and made some amazing, lifetime friendships.
I also made the mistake of accepting a full fellowship (like a scholarship, but has to be paid back if you don’t follow the conditions after graduation)for a career that I knew I wasn’t passionate about. And what do you know, when I graduated, I didn’t get a job in that career, and now I have to pay the fellowship back. But I gained valuable experience while in college, which I am still using. I’m paying back my fellowship, but it was worth it to not settle for a job I knew I wasn’t passionate about. I’d much rather be my own boss, like I am now!
My husband and I also made the mistake of buying a crusty fixer-upper when the market was down…our first home…and in the beginning, it seemed to be a huge mistake. My husband barely knew how to drill in a screw, let alone give our home the TLC that it desperately needed. But you know what? My husband has learned along the way, and has fixed things I never even dreamed he could tackle, and now has his general contractor’s license. I’m so proud of him! And I’m proud of the home that gets lovelier everyday, a place I’m now proud to live in. I could think of a few others, but this’ll do for now! 🙂
MaiAbsolutely Fee. I agree with you completely.
papernstitchThat page is off Paul Arden, my absolute favorite. I have certainly made and learned a lot from the mistakes. I am grateful for the mistakes too. Not only i learned, but it just makes me wanna be a better person.
Fee-AMore