3 Left Turns – the other right path

Two wrongs don’t make a right, but three lefts do! A proverb Mom said often when we were kids, adding some logical humor to soften the exposed tu quoque logical fallacy of deflection in the face of accusation. An inadvertent reminder that when a mistake is made, you can always get back to the right path eventually, but actively choosing to make additional mistakes will make things worse.

No one is perfect; we all make mistakes. And although difficult, we can overcome them and often learn from them. Without mistakes, life would be dull, monotonous. It’s in choosing to make secondary mistakes that life becomes difficult, monstrous. Learning from mistakes brings forth a life of delight, magnificence. Noticing the effects of our mistakes in hindsight allows us to make changes in slow progression. Noticing the effects of our mistakes in the moment allows us to change course midstream and avoid unnecessary challenges. Noticing the effects of others’ mistakes allows us to level up in our own lives.

Sometimes it’s the scenic path, all those extra left turns required post-mistake, that make the journey a life worth living. We learn what works and what doesn’t. We see how we are different from others, as the same mistakes lead to different lessons learned. We find our soulmates when different mistakes lead to the same lesson and our paths cross in Divine timing. We gain experience and wisdom to assist us in future decisions. We become guides and mentors for others, offering support and advice. Always doing the right thing may bring succinct success, but it lacks steady sensation.  

Choosing the second wrong, the deflection of the topic at hand, the returned accusation, the insistence on a tit-for-tat exchange, ‘getting even,’ is juvenile and emotionally aggressive. The lesson to be learned in the face of this behavior is when to walk away to protect your own peace. We do not have control over how others behave, but we do have control over how we respond. The hope is that by disengaging with someone incapable of observing their own behavior with magnanimity, you take the right turn that returns to you to your path and offer them a chance to learn a valuable lesson in their own life. And if it’s you committing the intentional second wrong, may the consequences be such that you learn enough not to commit a third wrong.

The victory of conquering a lesson after multiple failed attempts is unmatched by the doldrum of elementary lessons, easily mastered. New knowledge provides pride in self and increased confidence, fueling future ambitions for continued learning. Further, it puts one in a position to assist others over the same hurdles with fewer attempts and less embarrassment. Sharing is caring, and shared knowledge is invaluable.

Hindsight is 20/20, providing for a clear understanding of one’s mistakes and the opportunity to learn a lesson after time has passed and the fog of emotions has faded. The tortoise wins the race with slow and steady progress, often a better tactic than the hare’s rapid bursts and hubristic rest periods.

In the moment awareness pushes progress forward in real time without need for the dust to settle. Recognizing shifts in body language or energy in the middle of a conversation allows for the remedy of a social faux pas. The study of market trends can warn of an impending crash, allowing for a quick sale that mitigates loss or complete financial ruin.

You can’t learn from others’ mistakes, unless you’re paying attention. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.” Vicarious learning is not common, but it is real and effective. Recognition of stereotypes, taken with a grain of salt, can add flavor and texture to your understanding of issues in your own life.

It is my belief that each of us has a Divine path – a destiny. Although our destiny is set forth by Eloah [God/The Creator/Source], we can choose how we fulfill our destiny because we are given free will. The choices made will lead us to eventual death, but the journey we take forms by the choices made, including our mistakes. Because Eloah grants us ample opportunities to learn, and mistakes are inevitable, compassion, grace, and forgiveness are necessary. We are not to judge ourselves or others, merely walk our paths and enjoy the journey of our mutual making. March on: left, left, left, right, left…