“Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions.” 
~ Mark Twain

Truer words were never spoken! Everyone always wants to make good decisions, but that isn’t always possible. I don’t think anyone intentionally makes a bad decision, why would they? We make a decision based on the information at hand, sometimes we toss in a few overriding emotions, and BAM, there’s our decision and our experience hard at work. Sometimes it ends well and sometimes it doesn’t, but either way, the decision and the experience are ours forever more.

Not long ago, my youngest daughter inquired after I offered some information, “How do you know all this?” I, instantly, chuckled for so many reasons. First, I’m sure I didn’t tell her how to split the atom, so “knowing all of this,” was really just life stuff. Second, I recall saying those exact same words to my parents years ago. And third, and maybe the reason I laughed the hardest, was because she instantly made me replay in my mind of all of the decisions I had made, good and bad, that got me to the point of “Know(ing) all of this!” I didn’t love all of the replay, but some of it was good stuff!

Don’t be afraid to try something and fail. The wisdom and experience that comes along with good and bad decisions is what makes us really interesting at cocktail parties! It also makes us good mentors and friends. And it definitely helps us add value as parents. I love hearing stories of people who tried—I know how courageous and brave one has to be to try. If everyone only knew what Mark Twain knew, then maybe more people would risk making a bad decision. Just maybe.

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS! 
Beth