The first wrong

and how it's the way to get things right

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Now let’s dive in.

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Someone once told me: your first home won’t be your dream home.

I’ve been thinking about this lately. I noticed how my first attempt at anything wasn’t that great. Yet only after I made that first attempt did I become familiar with what I wanted to correct the next time around.

I remember buying my first car. I still have it—the first car bought in our family, almost 8 years ago. I knew nothing about cars back then. I didn’t test drive it. Didn’t check the features. Someone I trusted just recommended it, and it arrived at our home. Done.

If I were buying a second car tomorrow, I’d be an entirely different buyer. I’d know where I could be deceived. I’d ask the right questions. I’d distinguish between what I actually need and what I simply want. Not because I’m suddenly an expert, but because I’ve lived through making that first wrong choice.

That’s the thing about first attempts—they’re our education.

The same goes for many of my firsts. My first laptop wasn’t great. Neither was my first mutual fund purchase—I simply bought it last minute to save some taxes. The way I designed my office almost a decade back isn’t something I’d do now.

The visuals I created when I first started weren’t perfect. Now, when I remake them, I can do so much better. My first few clients as a freelancer didn’t value my time and efforts the way I deserved.

But none of that was wasted.

Every first wrong taught me something I couldn’t have learned any other way. I had to make those mistakes to develop the judgment I have now. I had to feel the friction to know what I’m actually looking for.

Somewhere, I feel that it’s always better to get your first wrong done as soon as you can. It also doesn’t mean making reckless decisions without thinking them through. But it does mean not waiting for perfect conditions or complete knowledge. Because waiting just delays our actual education. We don’t learn it all by researching. We learn by doing and then learning from what happened.

Right now, we’re getting our house repainted. And I’m looking at the colors we’re removing and thinking, “Why did I choose those?” And you know what? I’m laughing at it. It’s just another first wrong. And I needed to make it to know what I actually want.

The luxury in life is that we all have second chances. And the first attempt is where you have the freedom to learn by actually doing the work.

The first attempt is mostly wrong. But it’s the necessary wrong. It’s the bridge between not knowing and knowing. Between wanting and understanding.

So stop waiting to get it right. Get done with your first wrong. That’s where the next set of right things begin.

Take a Little Pause 🌼

What’s your first wrong that led you to getting something right? I’d love to hear. If you feel like sharing, drop in the comments😊

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Now?

Sharing what I’m watching, reading, and learning!

📺 Slowly watching: Nothing at the moment. Any suggestions?
📖 Happily reading: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, Think on These Things by J Krishnamurti, & How to Draw Adorable by Carlianne Tipsey (More book recs? Check my list!)
🎨 Doing: Onto Day 33/100 of exploring Procreate and just taking it slow :)

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Take care! 💛
Rachna

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Take a Little Pause is a weekly newsletter where I share my reflections and experiments in living a wholehearted life. Each post comes with visuals illustrated by me. If you’re on a similar journey, subscribe for free or become a paid Patreon to support my writing and help bring my dream of publishing a coffee-table book to life. 💛

NOTE: I’m taking a 1-2 week break from writing while we celebrate Diwali here in India. Your inbox will have one less email next week ;) Happy Diwali! Live the life :)