2019: the year of resilience.

"Fall down 7 times, get up 8." This up-lifting Japanese saying is one of my favourites. I have a knack of finding favourite sayings. I tend to choose the ones which strike a cord with me whilst consistently failing to put them into practise.

Because this year, like any other years, I will fall flat on my face again and again.

Because when I am lying there (figuratively most of the time), I will use most of my energy feeling angry at myself rather that fixing the problem which made me fall in the first place.

Because the idea of a baby refusing to learn to walk after her first, second, hundredth fall is unheard of, but yet we adults do it all the time.

I need my favourite zen saying more than ever.

Scarily, our natural resilience to failure seems to wane in us pretty quickly as demonstrated by my 7 years old the last time she fell off of her bike. This is another reason why we should take this more seriously. By accepting failure as a positive for ourselves, we will indirectly nurture a healthier approach to learning and problem solving in those who depend on us.

So this year, dear friends, I hope you fall on your face as many times as is necessary for you to learn whatever it is you need to learn. Fall with grace and gusto, on your arse, with a flourish or both legs in the air. Heck, improvise and even relish the fall if you feel like it.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

S.Beckett

Yes…Another favourite :)