AUGUST - Integration & Connection

                                                                                  Illustrated by Miki Howenstein

​…… It is believed by some that they must reach perfection before acting. RUBBISH! Not only does this never happen, but such a belief leads to making the perfect become the enemy of the good.,…. (From page 246 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
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Author’s Comment: As an English teacher in Japan, I find that many Japanese want to be confident in saying something (in English) perfectly before making the attempt to speak. I often share this true story. When I first came to Japan, I went to a social dance with several “respected elders.” I’d learned the word for “exercise” in Japanese (un-doe) and wanted to show off during the dance, saying “This is good exercise.” However, I accidentally said “This is good POOP.” (The word for poop is un-koe). Strangely, this connected me more to the good folk around me, as they came to realize if it’s OK for a teacher to make such a faux pas, it’s OK for them to do so too. Simply do what you can with as much integrity as possible, and move on.