I was walking out to my car and took 2 steps in the parking lot and, very much like a cartoon, my legs went forward, my bags went into the air, and my butt when down. It hurt. I fell. On ice. On asphalt. On. My. Butt.
It hurt and I was embarrassed. I was a little shocked...couldn't get up immediately. However, I could make sure that my coffee wasn't spilled everywhere immediately. Priorities people priorities.
As soon as I realized nothing was really hurt I started to gather my things and started to rant in my head. "THAT'S IT! I'M WORKING FROM HOME TODAY! I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IN THIS! WHAT WAS I THINKING! I SHOULD HAVE JUST STAYED IN BED!"
I started to pull out my phone to make sure I didn't have any meetings on campus and realized that the only thing that really hurt was my pride and the fact that I really don't like snow and ice. However, I made the decision to live where there is snow and ice so I have to deal with it. I decided to shuffle my way to my car...this time walking through the snow instead of sliding on ice again.
*disclaimer: if I fell again, I was staying home!*
I made it to work, granted my butt was wet from sitting on ice, but still I made it.
I had failed. I had picked myself up. I had tried again. I had succeeded.
Why is it OK for me and for kids and for all other adults to have these little life fails in the outside world but not in education? We learn so much from them. I learned to walk in the snow for instance. I feel like in education, failing is the end. Story over. Why? Why can't it be a chance to learn and try again? Isn't the point of education to prepare for life? We fail in life ALL. THE. TIME. Why don't we teach that failing is just another chance?
Fail = DO OVER! Don't we always want a "do over"? WE HAVE IT!!!
*disclaimer: I'm glad I didn't fail forward this morning otherwise my face would have hurt much more than anything else.
