Need a Do-Over?

So, have you ever had one of those days that you wish you could take back and get a do over? You know, like we used to give our friends playing kickball when they were too small or not very good, we would give them an extra chance to get it right? I wish I could get a do over every once in a while. Sometimes, in the moment of emotion, I say and do things that I mean, but because I am all worked up, they come out all wrong, or they don't get heard in the way I intended. What do I do then? I meant everything I said, yet I never meant them to be taken so hurtfully. If I had been thinking, taking a moment to be careful about how I presented it, I would have done it all differently. So, who's job is it to make it right? I believe that both parties have accountability. Yet, it is not okay for me to wait for the other to take responsibility before I do my part to make it right again. When I recognize my error or weakness, it is my job to do what I can to correct it and make amends. Boy! Can that be challenging to find humility or what? Especially when you want to be right in every way! The truth is that even though I still believe I am right in what I said, I was not right to say it how I did. And, in doing so, I undermined the possibility that the other person would use that information to learn and grow from rather than cower in a corner feeling hurt and betrayed. This human thing is so icky sometimes! I wish I could always do everything right, and in the right way all the time! Learning from mistakes is a painful process. Yet, I know, that if I don't choose to learn from them, then the mistake is worthless in all aspects! It only has value if I am willing to learn and make the necessary adjustments to do better next time. So, I will practice forgiving myself today because through that forgiveness, it allows me to pick myself up and get my deeply wished for do-over. I will also practice forgiving the other persons involved for not trusting my best effort and my "real" meaning of what I was saying to them. Maybe this way, I give them the gift of a do-over too. I can't undo what was done, I can only promise that I will do better next time. Does this make me a terrible person? I don't think so...it only makes me a real life human being that has real life imperfections. I believe that of my counter parts as well....they are real life human beings with real life imperfections. My heart was in the right place, and so was theirs. We just got our wires crossed for a moment or two. I'm sure tomorrow, we will all do a little better from what we learned today. At least, I know that I am going to give it a better try for sure. Because the real truth is that I love them very much and today, I'm not sure that message came through very well. So now, I will have to work a little harder to be sure it comes through loud and clear with no doubts!