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200 words, change, choice, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Do the right thing, forgiveness, learning, lessons, life, Life's like that, living in the moment, mistakes, second chance, wrong
We never really learn from the first mistake or the second or third. It only hits us when we’re given the last chance. ~ unattributed
I’d like to think that I when I make a mistake, I recognize I’ve done so right away and at the very least, I do not repeat it ever again.
But is that what really happens? For me? You?
When the above quote appeared on my twitter feed, it stopped me in my tracks.
I can think of specific examples when I said or did something, and immediately I’d wished I hadn’t done it. I tell myself I will never do that again and before I know it, I find myself in a similar situation and I DO IT AGAIN!
What is wrong with me?!
It’s as if I’m programmed to do it. Usually it takes several instances before I can commit fully to I-will-never-do-that-again.
Then there are those times when I am not aware that what I am doing is a mistake, or not the best choice I can make until I’m given one last chance or it’s just too late. period.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
Can you relate? What has your experience been?
talktodiana 
Yes! I’m guilty too but I think its a human trait and one we all go through, maybe some more than others. Try to take away something from each bad choice and learn from it. When I look back at my big bad mistakes I cringe and yet I know I have gained some extra knowledge or hindsight. Diana I do notice that some people never learn.
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uh oh Kath! Well to be honest, sometimes it takes me a few tries to get it as well. 😉 ❤
Diana xo
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It becomes a problem when a weakness is built into us…and we have to find ways to work with the weakness. Might take extra few minutes of more care.
Or keeping our mouth shut for a bit longer. Wait before responding. 😉
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Ahh the old keeping-the-mouth-shut trick. 😉 Thanks for chiming in Jean. ❤
Diana xo
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Diana,
We all develop habits. Those good and bad. One who is quick tempered is not born with that tendency nor one who has a habit of charity. We nurture them over time until engrained.
We all possess virtue and vice. But the red flag of caution fortunately precedes the vice alone; or at least so it should. It is at this time that we need to catch ourselves, before adding more fuel to the bad habit that we are in need of expelling.
Over time and effort it will one day be but a whisper rather than a shout. Prudence is the antidote. For it keeps a bad thought from becoming word or act.
-Alan
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Thanks for your thoughtful comment Alan. ❤
Diana xo
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To err is human, Diana. At least that’s what I keep reminding myself.. 😉
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That it is my friend, thanks Jennifer! ❤
Diana xo
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So… you’re complaining that you’re not a robot or a machine? XD
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haha point taken Smitty! ❤
Diana xo
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I do a little bit of both, sometimes laughing that I am here again! I am better now at changing old habits, and it uses far less energy. 🙂 Great post and reminder Diana.
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I think laughter is such a great bridge to trying again Karen! ❤
Diana xo
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Me too.
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So, you too? xo
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(smiling) ‘fraid so Val. ❤
Diana xo
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Very few people learn from their mistakes, me included, I am a big on for screwing up time and again, some people though do not realise they have made a mistake and these people will not learn because they don’t think or realise they have stuffed up me included
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Jo-Anne, I have a hard time believing that about you! You sure you’re not just being extra hard on yourself? ❤
Diana xo
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I think, generally speaking, that we are aware of the mistakes we are making as they happen, sometimes even before we take that step. We may sometimes learn from those mistakes but chose to continue to repeat the same course of action. Learning from our mistakes doesn’t always mean modifying our choices, especially when we are enjoying what we perceive as pleasure from those choices. Interesting post. Complicated answers.
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Hi George – thank you for your very thoughtful comment. There have been times in my life as well when pleasure trumped not repeating a mistake. ❤
Diana xo
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I know some of these feelings too well Diana. Thank you for the thought-provoking post.
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Thank YOU Russ. ❤
Diana xo
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I believe I’ve made a dozen different mistakes, but I haven’t made the same one twice. I do think I’ve learned from the mistakes I’ve made and not repeated them.
Then, again, I might just be mistaken. 😉
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Good for you Judy! I’ve done a bit of both. ❤
Diana xo
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Since I have never made one, could you please answer me, “What’s a mistake?”
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haha nice try Don! ❤
Diana xo
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Simple mistakes teach us lessons. The hard ones are those that are complex, important and life altering. There, we repeat over and over before we truly learn. I think we are all alike in that, Diana.
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I think that’s the general consensus here Van – thanks for chiming in! ❤
Diana xo
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Wouldn’t it be nice if we all learned from a mistake and never make that mistake again? It happens to all of us! Habits are hard to break. Great pix of you dancing, my friend.
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Wouldn’t it Lisa? 🙂 Thanks so much, dancing is fun and good for you, at least I think so. ❤
Diana xo
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Sometimes I think it might be because weHAVE been programmed for it. Our actions are often driven out of our subconscious, emotional brain. In order to reprogram ourselves we have to elevate the emotion responsible for our reaction to our consciousness over several cycles until we can do it willfully and substitute a more desirable response.
Wow that sounds textbook! But I think there’s merit in it?
Ian Munro (403) 510-5733
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It does sound textbook but fascinating Ian! I would love to hear what you’ve been up to since we last met. Could it be time for another coffee for you, me and Louise? ❤
Diana xo
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Yes, I can relate. It’s usually in interactions with others. Where I wish I would listen more, speak less, be more active in what I’m hearing. I’m sure I have thousands of examples….none of which I can recall specifically but I know this feeling well.
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Thanks for chiming in Colleen – I can definitely relate to what you’re saying here! ❤
Diana xo
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Nothing is wrong with you at all! Look at the world, look at government and society in general. It seems like we are in the midsts of our last chance to “save” our world as we know it. And yet not much is being done… You, however, are reflective. You are trying!
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Thank you for kind words and encouragement Joy. I have hope for the world and humanity too. We seem to come through at the last hour, historically speaking… ❤
Diana xo
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That is true. I hope America can follow Canada’s lead 🙂
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America has lead in many areas Joy. Hope we all just work together and do what needs to be done. ❤
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I think as I’ve gotten older and hopefully wiser, I’m not as apt to push things, because I’ve learned the end result is oftentimes just not worth it… like drinking too much! I can thankfully cut myself off now, and save myself from the awful mistake of a hangover! But there are much more serious things people don’t ever learn from and don’t ever get the chance to make the same mistake with twice… like pushing it with drugs and overdosing, or drunk driving and dying in an accident… I’m really uplifting today, aren’t I? lol
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It’s so true Kelly, those mistakes and corrections are best learned through someone else’s experience. Hugs to you my friend. ❤
Diana xo
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Yes, wouldn’t want to be that example… hugs to you as well xo
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