Journal: Even Monkeys Fall From Trees
Image Text: Monkeys are known to be excellent tree climbers but sometimes they get carried away or overconfident, so even they can fall from trees.
Saru mo ki kara ochiru — even monkeys fall from trees — is my favorite Japanese proverb. I first learned it many years ago while attending Japanese language school, where I (unwillingly) spent my Saturday mornings with other Nisei (second-generation Japanese American) kids. It is the only proverb that stuck with me, and has since served me well during life’s ups and downs.
As a writer and maker, I often hesitate to get my work out there in the world — hampered by wanting everything to be perfect and fearing being judged. In some ways, this is worse than having tried and failed!
But when I stop and think about monkeys climbing and swinging through trees with not a care in the world, it helps me put things in perspective. Remembering the joy of creating — whether with words or fabric — and giving myself the grace to be imperfect releases the inner critics and judges that often stand in my way.
While I haven’t personally witnessed monkeys falling from trees, I think if they did, they wouldn’t remain on the ground for very long. They would probably climb up and get right back into the game!
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