We are all goofballs

When someone makes an obvious mistake, it’s tempting to label then with a term that’s dismissive or even hurtful. A label is permanent, a noun, a way to sort and divide.

But of course, others can say precisely the same thing about us when we were uninformed, selfish or in a hurry.

If it’s permanent, then it’s all of us.

Perhaps instead of, “you are a mistake,” it might be more accurate to say, “you made a mistake.”

Starting from the place that we’re all imperfect makes it easy to find empathy, for others and ourselves.