Recently, I was in a bind. I double-booked my evening by inviting a friend to dinner over an existing appointment that I’d totally forgotten. When I realized my mistake, I had to cancel the dinner engagement. And it felt like, albeit minor, a failure, nevertheless.
Most of us follow the rules. Without them, the world would descend into pandemonium. Yet, intentional or not, we all break the rules. A missed appointment is a broken promise, whether you forgot about it or something else more important came up.
Despite our best intentions, life is unpredictable. We juggle competing demands and plan to the best of our ability. However, life is dynamic. Plans often get derailed by unexpected weather or a car that refuses to start without warning.
Do I feel bad when I break the rules? Absolutely. But “life happens” isn’t just an excuse–it’s a reality. We make the best of what we can do.
How much leeway would you give to a violation that was due to a mistake?
Running with Buddha 