Mistakes Are Worth It

Based on my Slightly Off philosophy, I’ve learned that mistakes can be a good thing.
When you not only accept, but embrace your mistakes, you can bring a positive energy to almost any situation.

My godchild, Claire, was to make her first communion. It was a special day, which called for a special gift, for this sweet, petite, tomboy who would rather be in soccer cleats and shorts than in a white, frilly dress. With only a few days before the event, I finally found it – a beautiful pewter cross. At first glance it appeared almost masculine, but hidden in the intricate design were a few tiny pearls. The inscription at the base of the cross read: Bless My Goddaughter.

That night after dinner, I couldn’t wait to show, Claire’s godfather, my husband, the cross. I waited for the expected response, and wasn’t disappointed. “This is perfect for Claire. Great job, Deb!”

Beaming proudly, I handed it to my daughter for her expected praise. But it didn’t come.
She stared at the cross, and said, “Um, mom. . . gee, uh, I hate tell you this. But this actually says, ‘Bless My Granddaughter.’”
I put on my glasses, grabbed for the cross, and sure enough, that’s exactly what it said, “Bless My Granddaughter.”

In the past, I would’ve beat myself up for myself for such a silly mistake and fumed about the wasted time and effort. But this time, it took only a second for me to shift my perspective. I laughed. My husband laughed and then my daughter joined in. The shared laughter and good mood made the trip back to the store more than worth the trouble. In addition, I shared the story with my goddaughter’s mother and she had a good laugh too. But the best laugh was yet to come.

At the communion party, my godchild opened her card and the cross. Once again, I took the opportunity to tell Claire and her sisters about the almost “granddaughter” gift. And once again the room filled with laughter. But it was my daughter, who sat reading the card, who prompted the biggest laugh. She suddenly looked up at me, shook her head and said, “Um, mom, I hate to tell you this, but this card says, “Congratulations on your Confirmation.”

As my e-mail friends would say, we were all ROFL (Rolling on the floor laughing).
Who would’ve thought mistakes could bring so much joy into the world.

Now that’s Slightly Off!

Video!

Beauty Beyond the Alley

I was once told that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Well, my eyes are getting pretty bad and it seems more difficult to see beauty all the time. After 48 years on this planet, I see uglyness more easily. Destruction, war, murder, negativity, even everyday stress, cloud my vision and distort my perceptions.

I wonder, have I become too cynical, too jaded, too old???? To see the beauty beyond the alley?

In the Chicago neighborhood where I grew up, behind every apartment building, two-flat or single brick home, was an alley. The place for all things, dirty, rotten, and smelly resided there. Large rusty cans filled with garbage, stood in the back of each home, buzzing with stuff to keep Oscar the Grouch, flies and soon-to-be flies (if you've lived in the city, you know the disgusting white larvae I'm talking about!) content for a lifetime. The alleys themselves were strewn with junk that never made it to the cans.

You might think it the least likely place to find beauty, but as a curious kid, I discovered it all the time.

Gravel and dirt covered the pitted cement and if you looked closely, you could always excavate a diamond or two - a rock with specks that sparkled in the sun, or a piece of colored glass just the right size to hide in your jewelry box and show to your best friend, if she hadn't tagged along for that particular expedition.

The rusty wire fence along one side was often dotted with another wonder, wildflowers, which quickly became bouquets we presented to our mothers or to have and to hold at our pretend weddings.

And these were only the most obvious treasures. If you were willing to go beyond the alley, peer around the garbage cans and brave barking dogs to peek over gates or between the slats of tall fences you might just get a glimpse of heaven.

Because in some backyards grew gardens of Eden. My eyes gazed upon flowers with shades of color so vibrant, I would catch my breath. In other small spaces, rows of green sprouted vegetabes, or a water pond mimicked the sound of a babbling brook, or gingerbread playhouses with white laced curtains sat nestled in the grass.

An alley is a Slighlty Off place to find beauty, but it's a good reminder that if we look beyond it, there is always beauty to behold.

Let's look beyond the alley today!