Regardless of what each of us is dealing with in life, there’s always room to offer more grace – to one another and to ourselves.

We can be our worst critics – whether it’s from a creative perspective or from a life perspective. We hyper focus on each mistake and each trip, but instead of seeing them as a natural an important part of life – we see these things as undesirable. That somehow, by not being perfect (or at least appearing to be mostly perfect to the outside world) we are less then. Less than him. Less than her. Less than…

The truth is that we all carry baggage. We all fear someone finding out our “secrets,” and we would all benefit from a little grace.

You don’t have to be the best at something in order to be worth being cared about. You don’t have to be the “most” at something in order to bring value and meaning into this world. You don’t even have to know what the heck you’re doing in order to move in a forward direction. You just need to give a little grace.

So whether you’re dealing with a major upset or trauma, or you’re simply annoyed with yourself for spilling mustard on your new white shirt again, consider giving yourself a little grace. Learn to laugh at yourself, and remember that we’re all here to fumble and stumble. The important thing is that we choose to get back up – take a hand – and continue moving forward.

For me, right now, that means that some days are productive and positive, and other days I simply get done what must get done – and nothing more. It means that some days feel clear and articulate, and some days feel like a jumbled mess of splotches and circles.