I Stand Corrected

My husband and I were out and about, and were getting hungry. We stopped at a local burger joint. On weekdays there is usually a line outside the door during the lunch rush, so we decided to try it. I didn’t want a burger, so I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich. I thought it was a safe bet, as who could screw up this simple sandwich. When my meal arrived the cheese was not melted and the bread was cold – how that was even possible? I have no idea. I stand corrected, you can screw up a grilled cheese sandwich.

I left most of the sandwich on the plate and exited the restaurant not only unsatisfied, I was frustrated. I had made an assumption about the cook’s abilities and was proven wrong. I assumed something simple could not be messed up, I was again wrong. I figured the line outside the door meant the food was good, which meant the items other than burgers would also be good…I stand corrected.

I felt ripped off in that I had to endure the worst grilled cheese sandwich on earth AND we paid for it. Yes we could have sent it back or complained, but it wasn’t worth the angst or time. We decided to vote with our feet by not going back….like ever! Lesson learned.

When was the last time you were proven wrong or were corrected and learned your lesson? It isn’t fun or life affirming, yet these are the lessons we never forget. We learn then, absorb them, and change our behaviors as a result. We remember them forever and live our lives differently as a result of these lessons. I know that sometimes we want to spare people around us from learning their lessons the hard way, but experience is the best teacher. It is hard to watch others go through it and learn, yet we know they will learn if first hand and never forget it. My best life and career lessons are the ones I learned the hard way and never forgot.

Once we got home, I was still hungry. No I did not make a grilled cheese sandwich, I will leave that for another day.