Last week, just before Thanksgiving, I sent out a heartfelt note to you to thank you for being in my community.
Sadly, this gesture was undermined by a technical snafu that didn’t populate your name properly as a result of a new email system I’m using. 🤦
No problem, thought I, I’ll send a follow up note of apology!
Which resulted in an old email going out by mistake.
Massive failure on both counts.
I backed away from the computer with my proverbial tail between my legs.
Dear reader, I offer up two things for you.
First, my sincerest apology for the snafu. I’m using a new email system and it’s clearly not going as smooth as silk. I know that you trust me with your email and I take that responsibility very seriously.
Second, an instructive lesson.
My impulse was to mentally beat myself up and create a whole narrative about how everyone will think I suck at email and will mass unsubscribe.
But then, I decided to extend myself (and all of us) some grace.
At some point, you too will send the wrong email, say the wrong thing, stick your foot in it and generally make a mess of things.
Or you won’t because you’re some sort of perfect robot life form that never makes a mistake, in which case we’re definitely not simpatico.
When things go sideways, give yourself some grace.
Life is hard enough without you beating yourself up.
Nobody will be harder on you than the critic in your own mind.
Most people will probably not notice. Some people will notice and not care and a few will clutch their pearls and leave in a huff.*
Trust in the grace and generosity of people to understand human foibles.
Don’t let perfectionism or the fear of judgement and making mistakes keep you from progress.
Onward!
Rhea
PS: If you’re receiving this email and you’d really rather not, click here to update your preferences. In the words of Queen Whitney, “I’ll always loooooove yoooooooouuuuu.”
*Caveat: this is applied to small screw-ups and not raging dumpster fires like WeWork or criminal fraud like Theranos or international wars. We will all definitely notice and have feelings about it.
