It's OK to fail

I could make this about photography, but really it's about anything in life.  Sometimes things get hard, a bit too much, as a photographer I struggle to remain creative sometimes outside of weddings and other paid work - but really you just have to knuckle down and do it for your own sake, it's better to make mistakes and push yourself when you aren't getting paid than to let someone else down. 

Rather than talk about personal experiences relating to photography I'll use my 7 year old daughter as a bloody good example of someone who knuckled down and showed some real determination. ​

Taken from my personal Facebook page:​

​”Isabella did her karate grading at the weekend she’s 7 years old. She worked her ass off for 2 hours straight and made me incredibly proud. She got held back on the final test where she had to fight against 2 people simultaneously and didn't get her belt. She was devastated and cried all the way home.

She hadn't sparred up until that point, had no gear and went into panic mode refusing to do it. Sparring is a daunting experience the first time, being asked to do it in front of 60 other kids and a bunch of adults (and the fact it was vs 2 opponents) she was devastated she didn't do it or get her belt and nervous about going back.

So we got her some kit and took her back so she could ask if she could do some sparring, she wasn’t told to do this, she decided she wanted to. This is her first time, when it finished she asked "can I fight 2 people now"

Kids need these lessons, not everything will be handed to them on a plate, they'll have to do things they don't want to, to face their fears and really earn things. In a society of "everyone's a winner, here's a medal for taking part" kids need to learn they can't always win, they need to learn how to lose sometimes and how to move forward from it.

Isabella learned a valuable lesson over the weekend and tonight, she's learned to lose but not give up or dwell on it, she learned to face something she was scared of doing and she did it”

​So here’s a lesson for all of us, if a 7 year old girl can do it (the titch in the pink stuff), we all can. Chin up buttercup !

Determination

Our kids had their karate grading this weekend.  It's not easy, an hour of non-stop technique and fitness, stuff that would wipe a lot of adults out.  J is 4, he's had a chest infection for 2 weeks but jees I'm proud of the little titch. He never stopped, complained or thought about quitting. 

 The end bit of the session is a punisher, essentially 15 minutes of non stop star jumps, burpees and leg climbers at a faster and faster pace for each circuit, what makes me just as proud is his big sis Isabella who's only 7 saw him starting to flag a bit and got on the mat next to him to do the exercises and encourage him to keep going, even though she had her own 2 hour grading straight after.  

Kids can teach us grown-ups a lot sometimes.  

I'm incredibly proud of both my kids, they may fight like cat and dog and annoy the crap out of each other but they're so loving and supportive towards each other when it matters.  

J starting to struggle 

Poor kid couldn't stop coughing but kept going

Big sis giving encouragement 

One very chuffed lad and sister