“We must expect to fail… but fail in a learning posture, determined no to repeat the mistakes, and to maximize the benefits from what is learned in the process.” – Ted Engstrom

Sometimes you’re the bug, sometimes you’re the windshield.

Watch Dire Straits sing it here.

Boy oh boy, today was a whopper. Today, I felt like the windshield.

What started out as a seemingly low-key day with catch up work and a couple of appointments, quickly turned into a shit storm. A full on, in your face, hitting the fan right now… shit storm.

Everyone makes mistakes. They can, and will, happen. If you depend on many people, you have to be willing to accept many mistakes. Period. Knowing it is all but impossible to expect perfection out of anyone, including myself, I do my best to take it in stride.

To ask, “what can I learn from this?”.

To not lose faith in humanity.

To not take anything too personally. Especially in moments of tension.

Sometimes, regardless of preparation, know-how, ability, skill…all of it…there is, quite literally, nothing you could have done to prevent a certain scenario from unfolding.

Nothing.

If there was… that is the lesson you take with you going forward. Be better next time. It’s all you can do. Don’t dwell on it. Don’t relive it, again and again, retelling the tale. Don’t let it cloud your other relationships, as hard as that may be.

Let it go.

Sometimes you are the bug. Sometimes you are the windshield. Only you can decide which you’ll be moving forward. And either way, be grateful you’re able to make the choice.

See you on the journey….