Dear four year old self, I solemnly swear to always be right. And in the words of Anne Lamott, the author of Bird by Bird, “perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people.” Growing up, I have learned and experienced my fatal flaw, pride. That a minor moment in time has unconsciously impacted my mindset in life. I hated the feeling of making mistakes; therefore I tried to never make any. It sounds a tad exaggerated, however, it’s true. I was three years old, when I was enrolled in a workshop where they taught children to read and write. The whole experience was vivid, but this one particular event stands out—when I was learning how to read. The tutor’s voice was low, mellow and patient when he utters a word. Looking over,
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So why couldn’t I do this? I should have been able to do this. And how ironic? I tried so hard not to make mistakes, but in the end it became my biggest mistake of all. I knew nobody was perfect, but I never really understood the saying itself. Not until reality woke me up and I realize that mistakes are the lessons taught by life. That accepting my flaws and insecurities beats any overwhelming amount of pride; being able to be vulnerable is one of the strongest attributes a person can have. I wasn’t fighting the world anymore, the world itself became my friend, and I realized how precious it truly is. That the beauty in nature is created by happy little accidents and only those who take a step back from the screeches of rubber against cement roads or the fluorescent glows of devices are able to appreciate the little things. To just stop worrying about time slipping away and enjoy the moment is quite tranquilizing; a luxury to just close your eyes and inhale purified air and be greeted with the cool September breeze against rosy cheeks. And being able to acknowledge that I was putting unnecessary pressure in myself and that it was okay to be wrong because it gives me a chance to take a step closer in becoming the person that aspire to
So why couldn’t I do this? I should have been able to do this. And how ironic? I tried so hard not to make mistakes, but in the end it became my biggest mistake of all. I knew nobody was perfect, but I never really understood the saying itself. Not until reality woke me up and I realize that mistakes are the lessons taught by life. That accepting my flaws and insecurities beats any overwhelming amount of pride; being able to be vulnerable is one of the strongest attributes a person can have. I wasn’t fighting the world anymore, the world itself became my friend, and I realized how precious it truly is. That the beauty in nature is created by happy little accidents and only those who take a step back from the screeches of rubber against cement roads or the fluorescent glows of devices are able to appreciate the little things. To just stop worrying about time slipping away and enjoy the moment is quite tranquilizing; a luxury to just close your eyes and inhale purified air and be greeted with the cool September breeze against rosy cheeks. And being able to acknowledge that I was putting unnecessary pressure in myself and that it was okay to be wrong because it gives me a chance to take a step closer in becoming the person that aspire to