Failure and success

The Best Advice I Ever Heard

Hi friends (and new friends who’ve found me from my book, The 10 Minute Fix!) I’m glad you’re here.

I’m Catherine, writing from Sydney, Australia: 55 and still going strong…freckles, wrinkles and a few extra Covid Lockdown Kilos but hey, here we all are: authentically us. Right?

Today I wanted to share some of the best advice I’ve ever heard. This little bit of wisdom is super old, but here it is:

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This means that if we’re not failing, we’re not even in the neighbourhood of success.

It’s hard to remember when we fail at something that failure is necessary. It means we’re in the game. Success and failure go together, and you can’t really have one without the other.

We’re learning either way, but the truth is that we learn so much more from failing. Gahhhhh, I don’t like this but it’s true.

I love to be the pourer of the coffee or the bubbly, the friend who whips up a celebration cake, pops on a dress and some earrings and says, “YAY! Let’s celebrate!”

I’m wired to be a forever-cheerleader.

BUT we all fail. I certainly do. Oh, I could tell you some stories and cry you a river…

Failing is never fun, but it’s the quickest path I know to growing and learning. The key is to stay in the same neighbourhood and head off in a new, revised direction.

If you’re trying something new—or if you’ve recently had a ‘wee upset’ (like my British friend calls it)—I hope you’re still walking. Move, move, move, anyway you can. Keep that trajectory forward.

Thinking of all of us Aussies today (lockdown continues but our weather is lovely), and everyone overseas enjoying summer dresses and having barbecues. I’m going to make that Blackberry Cake from last week, walk our puppy, and work on a NEW book written just for you! Yipppeee.

I hope you’re well.

Love Catherine x

PS.

  • Cry Me A River with the amazing Julie London. Her voice!

  • Aussies, grab a package of frozen blackberries and you’ll have everything you need to make the most delicious cake from last week. Summer people, you’re in blackberry season. Lucky you.

  • Vegan and healthy-healthy friends—can you help? I sometimes search for good desserts to serve vegan friends (because I’m a compulsive baker). Do you have anything to share? Email me here. All I have is the best recipe for Delicious Raw Brownies.

  • Pink trackies above…I had a tracksuit almost identical to this one when I was 17, and I bought my sisters the matching blue, green and pink pastel sets for Christmas. This one is so soft and cuddly, and Aussies, it’s here on a fabulous sale (not an affiliate link). Thanks to my stylist-friend for letting me know! Love!