Dowagiac visitors Rosa Parks, Helen Thomas inducted
Published 9:52 am Friday, March 17, 2006
By Staff
Did you find the red bead in last week's column about spring cleaning?
So far no one has discovered it in spite of the fact that I've provided hints.
Let me rephrase that - no one has TOLD me they found the bead.
What's a red bead? When the Art Train was here a couple of weeks ago with the spectacular display of Native American art, I was impressed with the bead portrait of a woman.
At the very top of her hair was a red bead symbolizing human imperfection.
I don't really need a red bead to remind me of my imperfections - family and friends do a wonderful job of that for me!
But this one I discovered on my own. (I'm sure that many mistakes have slipped by my proofreading but usually not past the eagle eye of my English professor wife.)
Well, I'm not all that embarrassed. My recovery of the fumble occurred when I realized that I could pass off my grammatical mistake as a red bead -an intentional imperfection.
Sounded good to me - transform the mistake.
How we deal with mistakes and fumbles is important. I've noticed that some people use humor as a way of recovery; others use anger; and some blame others for the mistake.
My recovery of choice is usually humor. Life is too short to get your shorts in a knot and obsess about something that can't be changed.
For instance, I couldn't change the fact that I stumbled over a floor mat at SMC and a student saw my blunder.
I merely bowed to the student in a ta-da flourish and smiled at her. She was amused.
We humans often attempt to save face.
For instance, when one slips on ice, it's a natural reflex to look around and see who saw the fall. Often no one did!
But if, perchance someone did observe, we choose how to react. I choose to laugh at my accident.
Activating the red bead is a way of saying, “I'm not perfect.”
Years ago, family friends who were missionaries in India were back in the states on furlough.
One Sunday morning, dressed in a lovely silk sari, she greeted people as they left church.
When she later went to the ladies room, she discovered that her hair was still in pin curls.
She saved face by stating later that perhaps the people thought hairpins and pin curls were in vogue in India.
Our cats are very good at pointing to red beads.
A missed jump or surprise reaction brings the look of, “Oh stop it! I intended to do that!”
So what's the big deal? Mistakes and accidents happen-often beyond our control.
Remember the red bead theory. None of us are perfect. Don't get your shorts in a knot. Relax. Laugh. Accept your red bead and go on!