Changing the way I view failure (part 2)

Learning to play mahjong.

My husband and I sat at our table in early February as he painstakingly explained the rules, a few of the tile combinations I should aim for (complete with the Chinese names for them which, I admit, I forgot almost immediately), and patiently played a couple of rounds of mahjong with me.

A week later, we went to his aunt’s house and played together for a couple hours. She was very kind, helping to “train” me (her words).

I won a couple of rounds and lost more than a couple rounds. But sitting there, trying my best to remember the rules and putting myself in a position where I would likely fail often, didn’t feel as scary as it did before.

Even though I’m not a good mahjong player by any means, I feel much more comfortable playing. I still have a ways to go, especially considering that I need to be good enough to hold my own when we go visit my husband’s grandparents in a few months, but it’ s a start!

A mentor of mine often says that she loves to fail because it’s an opportunity to learn. I used to think that she was crazy, because ain’t no way anyone actually likes the feeling of failure. But I am beginning to see inklings of truth in what she said.

Failure truly is a great opportunity to learn. I don’t think I will ever love the feelings that come with failing, but I am starting to see its necessity.

March’s new thing: posting on Instagram once a week!