Learning our ABC's

We never get anything right the first time....

I love this audio….it is my grandson singing his ABC’s. He is two and a half. He has been practicing, but he still doesn’t have it quite right. How could he? He is still learning. Yet, there is such joy. Joy in singing. Joy in listening. Joy in my son and I celebrating my grandsons version of the song….which sounds at the end more like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

The point is…none of us has ever attempted anything and done it perfectly the first time. Not our ABC’s. Not reading or writing or math. Not walking, nor talking. Not driving or a new job or being a parent or a better partner. Not a sport or learning how to create art or even how to be still. To be present.

Nothing in life comes easily. It takes repetition and practice. Time and effort. And most of all patience. Why is it when we get older, we have the unrealistic expectation that we should learn something overnight? If we don’t, we have failed. And that failure means we have to give up altogether. That we “suck” at whatever it is we were trying. I will stick with Nelson Mandela’s perspective on trying, “I never lose. I either win or learn.”

Today…I wish for everyone reading this to remind yourself that you are never a failure. You are a work in progress. One that need patience, practice, and compassion. Celebrate ALL the times you get it wrong as the beautiful learning experience that it is. And then wake up tomorrow and start again.

Happy Monday!! ❤️