People always make the statement that language, race and religion can be huge barriers but one thing that is always universal is a smile or laughter. And this is very true. But I would like to make the argument that there is one more thing that is universal other than a smile that if recognized as such could make a world of difference: MISTAKES. We all make them and we even find time in our schedule to let other people know they are making them. We like to make the cliche statement that no one is perfect, but when it comes down to it no one wants to admit that they have made a mistake. Well . . . I make mistakes, BIG mistakes! And sometimes I don't make up for my mistakes or confess to having made the mistake. <Hey, look another mistake I make> Everyone makes them. . .we get upset, we say and do things we don't mean, we make a mistake that is hard to take back and could potentially lead to more mistakes and not just our own.
As much as we would like to say "it was because of this" and "because you said or did this", the truth of the matter is for one second in time we forgot who we were <HUMANS> and we forgot that the one thing that humans are good at is the ability to make mistakes. And this is when the cycle begins <You make a mistake-I get frustrated with your mistake-So I do something that ends up being a mistake-Then you get upset with me for my mistake> . And at the end of the day, we know, neither will back down and say they were wrong. Hell. . .You'll be lucky if the person even acknowledges that you exist anymore.
So as not only a psychology major but also a leader of an organization on a university campus, I see this all the time. I'm a part of it more than half the time. And I'll be the first to admit that I usually know when I'm making a mistake or allowing someone to make a mistake. . .I think it through in my head and I go, "Well if no harm comes of it. . .No point correcting it now." And that is when the world explodes, buildings start crashing, the oceans start to cover the continents, all food supplies are down and the temperature heats up to a BOIL. Ok. . .so it's not that dramatic, but it can feel that way. It is hard to remind yourself at all times that a universal law states that at some point I will as a human make a mistake that could be a domino for a whole bunch of nonsense mistakes. I guess the next best question is "WHO WILL BE THE BIGGER PERSON?"
P.S. I made a mistake. . .Can WE fix it?!
