Can you laugh at your mistakes?

I went to a middle school arts concert tonight. 

First I want to say, I celebrate the arts. I would rather see people drawing badly than not drawing at all. I would rather hear terrible singing than no singing at all. But I do love honesty. 

So bless the middle school kids. Some of them had just switched instruments 2 weeks prior to the event and .. yes there was a lot of squeaking in the clarinet section. Whoever that was... BRAVE. VERY BRAVE. 

It's way harder to do something terribly in public than it is to do something wonderful. 

Anyway. All us parents are nodding our heads politely and tapping our feet. And I look over at one of my awesome kids. Her hands are over her ears and her mouth is open and a look of terror is on her face. Whatever sounds she was hearing, well, they were killing her senses. 

I'm not into public shaming or mocking. I love risk. I love trying. 

But there's something that my kid teaches me. She makes me tell it like it is. If it stinks, IT STINKS. But I think the cool thing about her is she thinks the SOUND is horrible, not the people. She doesn't go on and on about how terrible these people are. She doesn't mock or laugh. She's just shocked at what her ears are dealing with. 

I don't remember ever being able to separate thinking SOMETHING someone did was bad, without thinking that the PERSON was bad too. 

I don't remember being able to separate feeling bad about SOMETHING I did, without thinking I WAS BAD too. 

I don't remember ever laughing at my mistakes. Laughter and mistakes ALWAYS meant mocking. But I know some people who can laugh at themselves. They are like glitter. I think they must have such fun lives. Imagine. Instead of hating yourself, you laugh at your mistakes. Nothing personal. Nothing deep. It was a moment. Look at my mistake, can you believe it. Hahhah hahahaha. Move on. 

I think that goes for people whose aren't afraid to fart. You have to have no shame in order to fart around other people. If I fart... I lie about it. 

But think about it. No shame. 

Oh dear. I am not promoting public farting. But I do think it would be a worthy goal to have it in my mind, to laugh instead of lie next time I make a mistake... or... ahem, let something slip. 

I think sometimes we try to make people feel good about their mistakes. But that is a mistake too. I don't know if I'm ready or even able at this point to laugh at myself, but laughter is wonderful. It's healing. It takes away the tension. It opens our hearts. My little ear plugging daughter is also an easy laugher. Another lesson. 

Easier laughter. Separate myself from the behavior. If it is funny, laugh. Not so serious. 

Do you laugh at your mistakes? Or... are you prone to lie ... like me?