Learning is difficult. Not the learning that takes place inside of a classroom, but the wisdom that we learn outside of class. Fortunately, the things we learn in our everyday life are the things that can bring us the most enlightenment. Don’t get me wrong; I am not fond of the mistakes that I’ve made.
However, if I didn’t make these mistakes then I wouldn’t be who I am today. The consequences of mistakes can often be difficult to grapple with, but these slips in our judgment can teach us very important life lessons.
Having to accept that we made mistakes is often hard. I know that I’m not perfect but sometimes I’m surprised by my own carelessness. No one consciously plans on messing up. I consider myself a person that weighs my options fully before I execute my plans, but my track record proves otherwise. Oh well. I always hope that the next time a similar situation happens I won’t be so foolish.
Take my issues with deadlines, for instance. Whether it’s a paper, a column, an application or a reading assignment, I am a persistent procrastinator. I’m well aware of the sleep deprivation and stress that goes hand in hand with putting tasks off, but my bad habits remain stubbornly engrained in myself.
Sometimes when we’re wrong we feel horrible because we are conditioned to believe that we should know better, especially with so much life experience behind us. We are human after all, and making mistakes is part of our lives unfolding on this planet. Making mistakes may actually have its perks. When we can learn a lesson from our mistakes, maybe something good has come from our errors. It’s not easy, but learning from our imperfections is the one positive aspect that can come from possessing them.
When life takes an unexpected turn, it’s easy to get frustrated. The truth is, you can’t beat yourself up. You have to accept your imperfections, learn a lesson from the experience and then move on. When a child is learning to walk, you don’t yell at them every time they fall. “No Timmy, don’t be so stupid! You fell last time! This time, do it without falling! Walk correctly!” That would be an absurd thing to do. We have to practice the same patience with ourselves, accepting that we will continue to make mistakes.
One day we may learn from all of our past and present. This may sound disappointing, but at least we know that through our mistakes we will always have an opportunity to improve ourselves as people, becoming individuals who are prepared for what lies ahead.
Maria Gellepes is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. She can be reached at mg887@bu.edu.
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