Some of you have heard me say: "Instruction and perfection are not a good match". And, while I have said it for many years, I certainly have had some difficulty accepting it myself.

One of the things I have noticed about myself and have been told by other instructors about themselves, is that we are often keeping our fingers crossed in the hopes that everything will go "without a hitch" when we are working with participants.

When things don't go smoothly, instructors are notoriously hard on themselves. It is not uncommon for instructors (and I count myself among them), to still be trying to sort out what could have been done in a tricky situation many years after the incident took place.

Perhaps it is a part of growing older and wiser (?), but I think that I am now finally feeling comfortable with, and even looking forward to, the positive effects of things NOT always going smoothly.

I have come to understand that the "hitches" truly add a sense of humanness and genuineness to the learning experience. They foster a sense of collaboration, encourage us to see different perspectives, help us all to learn a great deal, and often promote laughter. What could be better than that?