Begin Again

It’s funny how lessons learned have a way of reappearing months or even years after the original learning.  Last year I participated in a learning activity where the primary lesson was to “begin again”.  I was part of a group that was given a particular objective, and instructions on how to achieve the objective.  The specifics don’t really matter; what does matter is that every time we strayed off course, so to speak, we were required to “begin again”.  The activity seemed simple enough on many levels.  Nevertheless, it took a fair number of attempts, and a fair amount of time.

At first, when we were invited to “begin again”, there was a sense of general fun and goo-natured joviality.  As time went on, however, the words “begin again” started to be met with frustration and despair, particularly as we seemed to get closer to achieving the objective, only to be told “begin again.”

Once the activity was done, objective met and duly celebrated, we all had time to sit with the learning.  Indeed, I have sat with the learning for almost a year now.  And what I know for sure is this:  whenever I fall off course, whenever I make a mistake, whenever I screw things up — no matter how close or far I am to achieving the stated objective — I get to begin again.  Always.  Each and every time.  I can have my moment of frustration, I can even be downright angry.  And then I can begin again.  And eventually, after I’ve begun again often enough, success will be mine.  And the learning gleaned along the way will enrich my life thereafter.