Sometimes a lesson learned the hard way is a good thing.

Last night I took Kyla and Sage with me shopping at Walmart. As usual, they were climbing all over the cart and acting like twits. I always ask them to stop climbing on the cart because it's not only annoying, but dangerous as well. They will generally stop for a few minutes, then start climbing on it again as soon as my back is turned. So, anyway, last night, the inevitable happened. Kyla and Sage both decided to climb on the same side of the cart, causing it to become off balance and flip right over. Sage now has a beauty of a shiner. I hope they learned their lesson, but I'm not counting on it.

There are two types of people in this world. Those who take the good advice of others and lead easy lives and those who choose not to listen and learn lessons the hard way. Like my daughters, I am one of those people who learns the hard way. I was always one to challenge authority and attempt to defy the odds just to prove any nay-sayer wrong. If I am told I cannot do something, you can bet I will try it. If I am told I should do something, you can bet I will avoid it. Ironically, however, I will offer my advice from the hard lessons I have learned when I see someone headed in a bad direction.

I am not one to take the easy path anywhere. If there is a roadblock or something to stumble past, I will do it. If there is a challenge put before me, I will honour it. I am stubborn. I am not a slave to ego, though. I have no problem admitting my failures, shortcomings and defeats. I am ok with not always succeeding. I think failures help build character and help us realize not everything is entitled or comes easily. The most successful people are that way because they have tried and failed and gotten back up to try again.

So Sage has a black eye, but she's thankfully ok. It is important to realize we can't always be there to catch our children when they fall because sometimes learning the hard way is a good thing.