My daughter, Calista, was in a car accident today. Five cars were involved. Thankfully, no one was hurt. As we were preparing to leave the scene to take her home, the police officer shared just how lucky she was. He said that he’d never seen so much damage to a car with the person walking away with not so much as a scratch. God was definitely looking out for our girl today.
But I want to mention how proud I am of Calista. Not because she made a mistake – but because she owned it.
The second we walked up to the scene, she took 100% responsibility. Without hesitation, she admitted, “It’s my fault – I ran through a yellow light that turned red because I was distracted.” This level of accountability is truly remarkable. In many situations, people tend to deflect blame or make excuses, but not Calista. She bravely owned up to her mistake, which speaks volumes about her character. I couldn’t be prouder of the extraordinary young woman she’s becoming.
One of the bravest things we can do in life is admit when we are wrong. It takes true courage to face our mistakes and learn from them. She did that today without hesitation.
While I am proud of her for owning her mistake, that’s not why I’m sharing this, I’m sharing this as a reminder that owning our mistakes cannot be overstated. Because she owned her mistake, the people who were involved showed compassion, and the police offers showed her grace.
It’s so easy to succumb to the temptation of deflecting blame or making excuses, but when we admit our faults openly and honestly, it not only builds trust but opens the door for growth and improvement.
In the reverse, when we avoid owning our mistakes and instead resort to deflecting blame or making excuses, we not only hinder our ability to learn from the situation, but we also risk damaging our reputation and relationships.
If I’m being honest, I have found myself in situations more often than I’d like to admit, where I found my ego coming to defend my mistakes. I’m not proud of it, but it’s true. It’s a humbling realization to admit that I have, at times, prioritized protecting my pride over acknowledging my errors. Today’s events shed a light on this for me.
The truth is we all make mistakes; it’s part of being human. We stumble, we fall, we get up, sometimes we do it again – but hopefully, we learn and grow. It’s a universal experience that unites us in all of our imperfections. It’s not the mistakes that define us; it’s how we choose to respond to them.
Calista’s unwavering accountability today serves as a powerful reminder that owning our mistakes is a conscious choice – one that reflects our character and the strength of our integrity. It’s a choice that, when made with humility, can lead to personal growth, stronger relationships, and a more compassionate and understanding world.
By sharing this lesson, I hope to hold myself accountable and encourage others to do the same. Let’s remember that owning our mistakes is not a sign of weakness but a testament to our integrity and strength of character. In doing so, we can all strive to become better versions of ourselves.
