Give Yourself Another Chance!

Benjamin, Samantha, and a neighborhood friend were playing war (the card game) the other day.  At some point, it was apparent (and by apparent, I mean that I could hear how upset he was from downstairs) that Benjamin had lost, but the girls were going to keep playing to see who wins.  Needless to say, Benjamin was not happy about this and at some point I had to intervene and ask him to come downstairs.  I asked him what was going on and here is how the conversation went:

Benjamin: They won’t let me play!

Me: Well, honey did you run out of cards?

Benjamin: Yes

Me: Okay, that means you lost this game, but the girls want to keep playing to see who wins.

Benjamin: BUT I WAS GOING TO GIVE MYSELF ANOTHER CHANCE!

It was the sweetest, most innocent thing.  He meant it, too.  He didn’t understand why he couldn’t just have another chance.

Can’t we all learn something from that, though?  How many times do we, as adults, NOT give ourselves another chance at things?  We fail once (or do something we perceive as failure) and then we don’t try again.

It’s different for all of us.  Maybe you need another chance to make a business successful, another chance to eat right, another chance to be the kind of mom or dad you want to be. 

Whatever it is, with the new year upon us, I beg of you to take my sweet 6 year old’s lesson and give yourself another chance!