Dear Reader,

It's about that time of year where the New Years Resolutions may be starting to fade. Or the semester is getting so busy and crippling that you don't know how you'll even make it to spring break. This reminder is for you.

You will make mistakes, there's no avoiding it. Whether you're 13 or 33, you're destined to mess something up. These mistakes might be minor, they might be detrimental; and while its totally normal to be upset or scared over it, always remember to see life as a learning experience. It is the only way I am able to keep moving through the ups and downs in my life. Take what you learn from those mistakes and apply it to your life.

Remember, life and all of its challenges and tasks are tough. Learning the way and getting familiar with your life's path will take time to perfect. With that being said, be patient with yourself. Cut yourself some slack, ad acknowledge where you are working well, and take notice to the parts of your life that could use some adjusting. Whether it be finding new employment, re-evaluating what makes you happy, or distancing yourself from people who drag you down or hold you back.

Being patient with others is crucial to the process of growing as a person. The more you realize that we're all learning day by day and that forgiving others mistakes is as crucial as forgiving your own, you will be en route to a happy more fulfilling life experience.

The last thing for us Works in Progress to remember is something one of my professors said to my class last week:

"We are an evolving culture."

Right now we are in the midst of a huge culture/generation switch. Things are so much more different than they were just five or 10 years ago. Being open to learning and growing along side of this evolution will greatly benefit you in the long run.

So instead of dwelling on mistakes, shortcomings, or how things "used to be", keep it in the back of your minds that we are all works in progress, and if you are susceptible to growing with the world, then the only way we will be looking is up.