“Failure is a reality; we all fail at times, and it’s painful when we do. But it’s better to fail while striving for something wonderful, challenging, adventurous, and uncertain than to say, ” I don’t want to try because I may not succeed completely.” ― Jimmy Carter

I wasn’t able to watch much of President Jimmy Carter’s funeral yesterday, but what I saw was enough to make me think about being a better person. Funerals often have a way of prompting reflection, and Carter’s was no exception. His unwavering integrity, truly beyond reproach, stood as a powerful reminder for me. His life should inspire all of us to strive for better.

I hope Carter’s passing, and all that is being shared about him, inspires you and me to be and do better. I love how he said, “Failure is a reality,” so why are we so afraid of it? We can’t avoid it entirely and, more importantly, what are we missing by trying to stay safe? He mentions that the, “wonderful, challenging, adventurous, and uncertain,” is part of what we miss when we try to avoid failing. What are you afraid of doing right now simply because you might fail? I know a few things I can think of right now that I am afraid of failing at.

Today, let’s be brave. For Jimmy Carter’s sake, let’s walk right into this fear and see if we can experience the exhilaration of the, “wonderful, challenging, adventurous, and uncertain.” He did it, for sure, now we can, too. This might be a work fear or a life fear, but something amazing lies on the other side of that fear. And even if we fail, and it’s painful, at least we will have known that we went for it!

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!
Beth Fitzgerald