Last Monday I started the week by falling flat on my face. Or to be more specific, on all fours, in a river.
Let me backtrack. The week before, I realised I spent 11 hours in front of my laptop in one day. I told my French class about it, and from the concerned looks on their faces and my teacher’s solemn comment, “Ce n’est pas sain!” – that’s not healthy – it dawned on me that this is no way to live.
So, in the name of mental and physical health, I decided to start walking my dog in the morning (as well as the evening). She is very happy with this development.
I took my coffee, my dog, and my husband to the nearby Silvermine Wetlands, and, in the beautiful early morning sun, as I was using stepping stones to cross the low stream, I lost my footing (mornings aren’t my strong point) and fell forward, dismally looking at my coffee dispersing through the water and shoes going out to sea, soggy and sad.
Shout-out to my husband who ran into the stream, jeans, sneakers, and all, to save my shoes.
Luckily, I didn’t hurt myself, and we ended up laughing, calf-deep in the wetlands, confusing other early-morning dog walkers with our fully clothed frolic in the stream.
I wonder if it was life’s way of humorously teaching me that ‘failing’ is in the eye of the beholder.
Society often sees failure as a punishable offence. From when we are little, we are told to go to the dark naughty corner; we sit there crying, feeling epic shame. I think it’s high time for a shift in narrative, and I love Matt Matheson’s approach. He created ‘The Church of Fail’, where the staff ‘congregated’ and confessed their biggest work fail for the week.
The ‘church’ had amazing results. Employees realised that everyone makes mistakes, and they learnt from each other’s. It normalised, essentially, being human. It built a culture of honesty and compassion, and allowed the team to improve.
The other life lesson I gleaned while falling into that river? Quite literally, to go with the flow. To surrender. If I had tried to fight to stay upright and hold onto my precious cup of coffee, I would have seriously injured myself. As I fell, I just said, “Oh well,” and accepted my soggy fate. It was deeply liberating.
I’m currently listening to an inspiring audiobook by Miranda Hart, I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You and I love how she puts this: “The world shouts at us, ‘Fight, battle, push, fix, control, achieve, override… Happiness is your goal, and success makes you a good person… The truth gently shouts, ‘The way to peace and healing is acceptance, trust, hope, self-compassion, and rest. Vulnerability is strength and surrender is a place of transformation’.”
And according to the ultimate life expert, my dog, splashing in the wetlands on all fours is the best way to begin the week.
Mindful Musings
What the world was musing over this past week
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Heidi Klum becomes E.T. for Halloween
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Have a look at the best pooch Halloween costumes over the years, from Frida Kahlo to Superman, ahem, dog.
Lost Mayan city discovered in Mexico
An Indiana Jones-worthy discovery of an ancient city hidden in the thick of the jungle has revealed thousands of buildings including pyramids!