Now sit down for a minute, kiddo, and let me tell you something I’ve learned over the years. You’re going to make mistakes—plenty of them. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise. Life isn’t about never stumbling; it’s about what you do after you trip.

I’ve made my share of blunders. Bought the wrong things, trusted the wrong folks, even missed a few opportunities I should’ve taken. At the time, I thought I’d failed. But looking back, those weren’t failures—they were lessons in disguise.

See, you don’t fail if you learn. Every mistake is a teacher, if you’re humble enough to listen. The trick is to ask yourself: What can I take from this so I don’t repeat it? That’s how you grow stronger, wiser, and more prepared for the next challenge.

Here are a few things I’ve figured out about mistakes:

• Own them: Don’t point fingers. Admit what went wrong—that’s the first step to fixing it.
• Learn quickly: The faster you take the lesson, the quicker you can move forward.
• Don’t fear them: Playing it safe all the time keeps you from discovering what you’re capable of.
• Pass it on: Share your lessons with others—it might save them some heartache.

So, don’t beat yourself up when you stumble. Dust yourself off, tuck that lesson in your pocket, and keep walking. One day, you’ll look back and realize your mistakes weren’t the end of the road—they were just part of the map that got you where you needed to be.

And remember, kiddo: failure only sticks if you stop trying