Go ahead and fall.
March 30, 2026
Hello Friend!
Here in Michigan, after a long, bitterly cold winter, the first few days of barely warm weather feel like summer. Typically when the temp reaches anything over fifty degrees we enthusiastically abandon our heavy winter coats and grab our fleece jackets to go outside. Last Thursday during my morning babysitting session with Logan we took the opportunity to get some fresh air and explore the toys that had been stored in his garage all winter. Logan immediately gravitated to the little push cycle and got busy performing for Grammy.
I'm standing there cheering, clapping, complimenting him on his speed and skill because frankly, four-year-olds never get enough of that. At one point, however, I looked away for just a few seconds to admire the daffodils coming up in my daughter's garden and that's when I heard the clatter crash of the cycle going over in the gravel driveway. I spun around to see Logan on the ground, a smile still on his face as he hollered "I'm okaaaaay!". I smiled back, relieved that he hadn't hurt himself, and watched him jump up and push off again at speed.
Interesting. No hesitation, no frustration, just a smooth hop right back into action. Yeah, kids do that right? They're at a stage in life when learning and falling is more the norm, and they're willing to embrace the process even if there's pain involved. I suddenly wished I could feel that way again.
The truth is, the falling and the learning never really stop, but as grown ups we unfortunately take it much more seriously. If we fail at a thing, we often allow it to define us in a way that keeps us from getting up and jumping back in. Sometimes even the anticipation of failure keeps us from trying something new. Over the years we risk losing our sense of adventure when it comes to facing a learning curve because we're afraid we'll look less than perfect.
But what if we connected with that little kid living deep inside us, the one that knows it's absolutely okay to fall and hop back up. That falling is actually a very necessary part of the learning process?
Just think of the amazing things we could do. I'm cheering you on!!
