Daily Stretching Routine

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

― Albert Einstein 

How many times have you failed? Have you tried your hand at painting a landscape? Have tried to sing in public?  Have you tried to build a tree house for your child? How about reading the instructions and putting together a gas grill? Have you ever prepared a romantic dinner for your spouse, only to burn the roast? Have you ever tried to sew a dress, only to discover it was not measured properly, and you've wasted the fabric?   Have you succeeded at all these endeavors? If so, congratulations.  If not, what have you done? Did you take your marbles and go home at the first obstacle? Did you tear your hair out in frustration? Did you resolve to never try that one again?  If so, you're not alone.  The tendency is to give up after the first try.  The first discouraging word, the first suggestion that we may not have exactly what it takes to achieve our goal throws us back into the inertia of doing nothing, trying nothing, persisting at nothing.  If you try something new, but don't succeed to your satisfaction; if you encounter negativity and discouragement, you are giving power to those who would not support your efforts.  After all, what's wrong with trying again - and again and again - to be an accomplished public speaker? Why not try again and again to lose that extra weight? 

The measure of a man is not his successes, but his ongoing perseverance even in the face of failure - or what some would consider failure.