I read about a Zen master who described life as "one mistake after another." And, if you think about it, he was right. From a certain point of view, life can be described as a series of mistakes, one right after another, ⓐwith a little space in between. We mess up, make amends, and change. We then go on with our life. Sooner or later we make another mistake, learn from it, make the necessary adjustments, and move on. Mistakes after us the continual opportunity to learn and develop. Without them, there would be no growth, no reason to change. Accepting this idea makes (ⓑ to, ourselvesand and others, much, forgive, it, easier) when we ( or they ) "mess up"