Banwag AY 2016-2017 Vol. 7 No. 2

LITERARY
An Open Letter to the
Fault Takers
Pretty Shayne Arnejo
Mistakes may define how people see you, but it
does not define who you really are.
It’s disturbing to think how people start to see
you differently as soon as you make a mistake; you
become an entirely different person to their eyes,
much more different and rash on how they treat you as
soon as you commit an act dishonorable to the views
of people. You cannot blame them anyway; they have
their own views and values. You did wrong and they
have the freedom to express their views and opinions.
Your stand is a mere excuse for your fault because
the fact that you did it is eventually scrutinized to be
basically wrong even if you tilt the world upside down.
You may have lived a moral life, or looked up
to, or probably the least of the people expected to do
inappropriate actions before you committed one. The
fact that you might have tainted other’s reputation
aside of your own character might even ache you just
as more. Moreover, even those whom you did not
commit the mistake at, who merely heard the issue,
treats you just as rash and hurtful. You probably
felt guilty. You probably felt ashamed for committing
such act. You may have, and actually should have
acknowledged such grave act you carried out, never
denied, conceded the wrong you have done and
acknowledged the consequences. Unfortunately, such
views are irrelevant to them.
And their views should be irrelevant to you
either.
Instead, you have to stop succumbing yourself
from the aftermath of your mistake. I am aware how
ignoring their rash treatments and injurious comments
about you may seem easier said than done. But it
should be worth the try, don’t you think? Prove yourself,
regain and better your character to become someone
worthy. People may not completely see you in a new
light and only see you for the mistakes you’ve made;
they may still not realize that you are not your mistakes
and still mutter words that relive your faults, but believe
me, that won’t matter as much at all anymore. “You’re
going to make mistakes in life. It’s what you do after
the mistakes that counts.” Brandi Chastain, a retired
female football player, said these words herself.
Don’t let yourself be defined by the mistakes
you commit, but be someone who is defined by how
you respond to those mistakes. After all, mistakes are
inevitable for a reason; they are there to guide you
and teach you a lesson. You have to be prepared to
make all the mistakes necessary to give yourself the
experience it takes to get to where and who you want
to be. You cannot please everyone, but you can always
please yourself with a molded character undefined
from mistakes, but an erudite of it.
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