Do Over

Last fall, I attended a circus show under the big top. Like most, the performances were feats I know I couldn't perform myself and required many, many hours of practice - and even some guts.

One of the acts messed up. The timing was off. The act came to a crashing halt and the audience was silent. Anticipating...

The performer gathered himself, readied, and tried again....

SUCCESS!!

The crowd applauded their approval. Well done! I may even go as far to say that they appreciated the success more, seeing the difficulty.

How many times do we do that in other aspects of our lives? We are all human. We all make mistakes. Sometimes lives come crashing down. When we see that, do we immediately condone them as well as their actions, separate ourselves and others from their company, and bring up their past mistakes over and over?

Or do we allow them a do-over?

Children at play will call "do over" when there is a particularly difficult act they try to perform. We allow do-overs in certain circumstances. Why not extent that to all on a day to day basis?

We cannot change the past.
We can enlarge someone's future.
Wiping the slate clean so they can begin again.

- ESA