From Here to Better

I took myself to mat Pilates today. I’ve been once before, but every class is different—new movements, new challenges, new tools. Today, as I stood in line, I watched the people ahead of me grab two rings and two balls. Naturally, I followed suit.

And guess what? I was wrong.

As the class unfolded, it became clear that there weren’t enough props to go around. There was a shortage. My stomach did that little flip—the one that happens when you realize you’ve made a mistake and suddenly feel like all eyes are on you. But instead of sinking into embarrassment, I did something I wouldn’t have done before.

I shot up and said, Hey, I have two, do you want one?

And that was it. No one made a big deal about it. No one was judging me. It was just a simple misstep, and I fixed it.

Old me? Oh, she would have overthought this for days. She would have let shame sink its claws in, convincing herself that everyone definitely noticed, that they definitely thought she was clueless, that she definitely should have known better.

But here’s what I’m learning: it’s okay not to know everything.

We don’t always get it right. We misread situations. We assume. We make choices based on the information we have, and sometimes, that information is wrong. And that’s fine.

Because we learn by doing. We grow by trying, by making mistakes, by adjusting. Embarrassment is only as powerful as we allow it to be. The moment we stop letting mistakes define us, we free ourselves to actually experience life—to participate, to engage, to be human.

So today, I got it wrong. And nothing bad happened. If anything, it was just another small reminder that growth doesn’t come from knowing everything—it comes from being okay with learning as you go.

Here’s to letting go of shame. Here’s to getting it wrong. Here’s to better.