Fallor ergo sum – I err, therefore I am.
“Fallor ergo Sum – I err, therefore I am.” Saint Augustine 4th Century CE
One of the dilemmas we all face is that we don’t live up to our own standards and expectations. It is painful, once again, to see myself, make the same old mistakes, bite the hook, and succumb to righteousness, defensiveness, or something like, “mistakes were made but not by me.”
In Living Fully with Illness, we speak of the naturalness of death, much like tornadoes, hurricanes and so on. I view our frailties and our failings, with that same understanding. We are humans, not robots. Therefore, when we make mistakes or break our vows, it is not helpful to be against ourselves. If we can learn to just step back and bring a quality of impartial self-awareness, we can notice what happened and see if we can do better the next time. Furthermore, we can bring that same quality to our judgment of others. We recognize that we are all humans, in the same boat, and our job is to help each other keep the boat from capsizing.
I love how Pema Chodron describes our human dilemmas.
She sees them as an opportunity to cultivate loving-kindness and compassion. This is what she says:
“be patient with the fact that you’re human and that you make these mistakes. That’s more important than getting it right.”
How about that! Of all the articles that Pema has written this one has been the most helpful to me and I hope you find it useful too. Here is an excerpt:
Oops, I did it again
“I’d like to stress that one of the things you most have to be patient with is, ‘Oops, I did it again!’ There’s a slogan that says, ‘One at the beginning and one at the end.’ That means that when you wake up in the morning you make your resolve, and at the end of the day you review, with a caring and gentle attitude, how you have done. Our normal resolve is to say something like, ‘I am going to be patient today,’ or some other such set-up (as someone put it, we plan our next failure).
Instead of setting yourself up, you can say, ‘Today, I’m going to try to the best of my ability to be patient.’ And then in the evening you can look back over the whole day with loving-kindness and not beat yourself up. Your patient with the fact that when you review your day, or even the last forty minutes, you discover, ‘I’ve talked and filled up all the space, just like I’ve done all my life, as long as I can remember. I was aggressive with the same style of aggression that I’ve used as long as I can remember. I got carried away with irritation exactly the same way that I have for the last…’ If you’re twenty years old, it’s been twenty years that you’ve been doing it that way; if you’re seventy-five years old, it’s seventy-five years that you’ve been doing it that way. You see this and you say, ‘Give me a break!’
You are Human
“The path of developing loving-kindness and compassion is to be patient with the fact that you’re human and that you make these mistakes. That’s more important than getting it right. It seems to work only if you’re aspiring to give yourself a break, to lighten up, as you practice developing patience and other qualities such as generosity, discipline and insight. As with the rest of the teachings, you can’t win, and you can’t lose. You don’t get to just say, ‘Well, since I am never able to do it, I’m not going to try.’ You are never able to do it and still you try”
Our efforts add up
“And, interestingly enough, that adds up to something; it adds up to loving-kindness for yourself and for others. You look out your eyes and you see yourself wherever you go. You see all these people who are losing it, just like you do. Then, you see all these people who catch themselves and give you the gift of fearlessness. You say, ‘Oh wow, what a brave one—he or she caught themselves.’ You begin to appreciate even the slightest gesture of bravery on the part of others because you know it’s not easy, and that inspires you tremendously. That’s how we can really help each other.” (this excerpt is from the article in Lion’s Roar called The Answer to Anger & Aggression is Patience by Pema Chodron)
These days it can be easy to wake up grumpy. Many are suffering physical and mental distress. The last thing we need to do is “throw sticks at our own heart,” as Hafiz says.
Let’s do our best, and at the end of each day, put the rest aside. We can never go wrong with gentleness and kindness. Each day is a brand new 24 hours. Let’s always start fresh and work with that.”
“Seven times down, eight times up.” Dr Shoma Morita
Notes
1:) I made a few slight changes to this post that I published, almost two years ago, for Thirty Thousand Days. I stand by Augustine’s statement. Our mistakes, lapses, neuroses, and quirkiness is what make us human. I don’t know where the notion came from that we were supposed to be flawless. It’s a lifelong journey of discovery and how lucky we are to still be on it.
2: ) I took these photos in the past seven days in my neighborhood. We are having a long, warm and sunny autumn. It is now November and we still want to be playing outdoors.
3:) I started an exercise program at Carleton University two months ago. I found no joy in it whatsoever until this week. With the exception that I admire and like the instructor – someone of my vintage who is still fit and strong. I would like to be more like him without doing anything. haha, What I am wanting to tell you is that there are things we need to do to maintain functional strength and flexibility as we live longer and/or are living with illness. (at any age) The point is that we don’t have to want to do it or even enjoy it. Just doing it is enough. The pleasant surprise today was that I finally warmed up to it. In other words, (good grief) when you know you will benefit from some activity don’t give up too soon. And for the first time in several months, I have no hip pain. Now that gives me joy. OK. I will get down off my soapbox, but while I’m here don’t forget to drink plenty of water, thirsty or not.
4:) Something to think about. The world dear reader is devastating, in every place we look. But this does not mean that we need to be devastated.
5:) Armloads of appreciation for all of you who keep showing up. You are the best. Warmly, Trudy
Dear Trudy,
Your beautiful post is my favorite to date. So full of compassion and love.
That first photograph on your banner is a showstopper !
This is a good reminder for me:
The world dear reader is devastating, in every place we look. But this does not mean that we need to be devastated.
I shall re read your post in the morning and perhaps every day
Kathryn
Thank you dear Kathryn for such encouraging words. I’m happy to hear that you found something useful for yourself. Pema Chodron is one of my favourite teachers precisely because of the generous love and encouragement she consistently offers fellow humans. I hope you enjoy your weekend. Warmly, Trudy
So true,Trudy,if we can be nice to ourselves,we can spread the light,,so badly needed these days.p.s. working on drinking more water.
Thank you, dear Jean. Always appreciate your dear notes. Warm wishes, Trudy
Trudy, what gorgeous photos! Your great artistic eye and message were exactly what I needed today! My husband and I have been battling Covid for the last 6 days and I have not been very patient with myself or others. Thank you for a much needed reminder!
Hi Connie: I am sorry to hear that you had an unexpected visit from Covid. There is such variety in how it shows up in different people. I hope you feel much better soon. I love taking photos, and these days I mostly use my iphone, because it is always with me. When we are sick, it is extra hard to be patient and kind. So use these days to practice being kind to yourself and the rest will follow. Thanks so much for your note. Warmly, Trudy
Because it is hard not to see devastation when we look outward, perhaps it is in looking inward with compassion for our imperfect selves that we can find some peace. thanks Trudy, love Jan
Thanks dear Janice. I appreciate your gentle observation. Warm wishes, Trudy
Oops, I did it again! and I laughed when I realized it (seeing your heron photo helped me).
After just telling the nature journaling group yesterday that I had finally put together the perfect nature journaling kit, which now made it easy for me to get outside sketching, I went out with the intention to nature journal, sat in the perfect spot with the perfect subject and realized I had forgotten my kit (instead I had brought 3 journals, 2 reading books, and my binoculars but nothing to write with). I was forced to just sit there and watch the heron I had hoped to sketch, and it was absolutely amazing! I was there for an hour in the fog, completely still, learning from the heron. But at the end of the day, when I reviewed my to-do list, I was disappointed I hadn’t done any journaling. Tonight I have another tactic in mind. Thanks for sharing the wisdom Trudy,
Emma
I love your note Emma. It made me laugh and smile thinking about the “oops factor.” And the truth is you gave your full attention to the heron. This is its own magic. I’m glad you discovered another tactic. Warmly, Trudy
Ooops “ you” did it again Trudy, once again, the exact posting I needed. Many Thanks G