The mailman

The mailman approached the building, his mind focused on his mission. Nothing would stop him from reaching the box. With the goal in sight, he broke into a sprint. He raced forward over bush, grass, and sidewalk until . . . a patch of black ice sent his feet into the air and his face on the ground. The mailman lay there for some time, breathing heavily as his merry-go-round world melted back into focus. A sharp pain shouted through his skull, but his mission continued to sing quietly like the gentle dawn of spring. He had to deliver the mail; failure was not an option. Slowly, the mailman managed to get to his feet and walk the remaining paces to the box. He delivered his contents and walked away, the sweet taste of success coating his pristine vision.

Sometimes we make mistakes with writing. Sometimes we even fall flat on our faces. It is what we do after our failures that define us. Do we lie there in pain, never finishing our task, or do we, like the mailman, get up and finish what we started? The Writing Center challenges you to be the mailman of your own life.