Start with mismatched corners

personal growth potential

I was writing yesterday morning when I heard our little girl squeal with delight from the other room. 

"Ah! I DID it!!"

She ran into the room, waving a folded piece of paper. She had successfully folded it in half, with the corners matching exactly. 

A couple weeks ago, she wanted to make a card for a friend, and I tried teaching her how to do it by folding a piece of paper in half. She had it down pretty well, but ended up getting teary and frustrated because the corners didn't quite match up.

While she wanted to be able to do it perfectly on her first try, that's not how learning works. We have to do it messy and imperfectly first. No need to wait until it's just right -- we simply have to start with our best try, and then keep practicing until we get it where we want it.