I’m not a very creative person so I normally don’t think of things outside the box, but when I do come up with an idea, it’s based on trial and error and what has and hasn’t worked, and I think that makes for a great idea. The best lesson is experience, isn’t it?

I know I make great contributions to my friendships, relationship, and work. I know I take leaps of faith for people I truly care about and love. And that’s one of the greatest contributions anyone can make: trust. I know I make great contributions at work because I do most of the grunt work and I ask good questions.

But as much as I believe I’m doing good work, I’m still learning. I have great ideas sometimes and I make great contributions sometimes… and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I slip or I put my trust in the wrong people. That doesn’t mean my contributions are any less. Life is all about experience and trial and error. To accept that I have great ideas and make great contributions all the time is the end of learning and trying to do better.

I’ll be honest: I used to believe I was better than everyone else, that my ideas were always the best and that the work I did was always worth more than everyone else. I used to believe that everyone around me was stupid and not worth my time. But after leaving the veterinary world and college, I no longer have that narcissistic attitude because I realize I have nothing to prove. After losing sight of a clear career path, there was nothing left for me to prove. I was no longer on a higher level than anyone else because I was trying to be a veterinarian – a doctor. I no longer saw myself as the over-achieving student that aimed for the best. I accepted myself for what I was finally: average and just trying to find myself. A normal person. And that version of myself is the best person I’ve been so far. I’m no longer pretending to be something I’m not. I’m no longer trying to be someone that just isn’t meant to be. I’m happier now, nicer, more considerate to others. And I’m just trying.

So, as much as I believe I have great ideas and make great contributions, I don’t believe that all the time because I can see the reality of being a human being: being imperfect. I can’t always have great ideas or contributions; otherwise, I’ll never learn from a mistake.