The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: mistakes

  • The Blame Game

    The only time blame is appropriate is when destruction is intentional.

  • Staying Out of Trouble

    At the risk of sounding ultra-conservative (heaven forefend), I really don’t get it when people are incapable of staying out of trouble. I mean, I understand making mistakes, believe me. I’ve screwed up a time or two. But when you do it over and over and over again, and can practically hear Dr. Phil whispering…

  • Mistaken Identity

    There have been many instances in which people have made assumptions about me that weren’t true. I always find these experiences extremely disconcerting. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. I think of myself as someone who is pretty easy to read. But of course, I shouldn’t assume that total strangers know how…

  • And Then Something Else Happened

    It’s very easy to feel put upon when your best-laid plans go astray, but why bother? Stuff happens. And not just to you. Every one of us gets blindsided every once in a while. If you think about it, concluding that things are going “wrong” is really the height of arrogance. Things might not be…

  • Write Your Own Life Story

    It’s not as though young people are beating a path to my door, asking me for advice. In fact, I don’t really know any young people. We move in entirely different circles. But given my rich inner landscape, I have a tendency to carry on conversations in my mind that I’ve never really had. This…

  • Plan Q

    A friend of mine posted a meme on Facebook that said, “If ‘Plan A’ doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters! Stay cool.” My response to that was, “I think I’m on Plan Q.” And it’s true. My life has been a never-ending series of do overs; a veritable cornucopia of screw ups and…

  • Stuffing Up

    One of the wisest things my mother ever told me was that if you make a mistake at work and are able to fix it, don’t tell anyone about it. But if you really screw up and can’t rectify it, then be an adult and admit to it. I’ve pretty much lived by this philosophy…

  • Life Begins at 50

    I’ve spent much of my life fearing the passage of time. I wasn’t obsessed with the topic, but I didn’t want to get older, that was for sure. What a waste of energy that fear was. First of all, aging is inevitable. All the plastic surgery and vitamins and exercise in the world isn’t going…

  • Lessons I Should Have Learned Way Before Age 50

    This has been a year of great change and great learning for me. I’m starting completely over at 50, and that creates a unique set of challenges. It also allows for a unique set of insights. Here are a few things that I’m finally starting to figure out this year that I wish I had…

  • Human Signposts

    As you walk your path in life, you’ll come across many intersections and forks in the road, and you’ll have to make decisions. Sometimes you won’t even know you’re at a crossroad until you look back and realize you’ve negotiated your way through it, or discover to your horror that you’ve gotten off track and…