07/14/2026
Have you ever noticed that animals don't seem embarrassed by failure?
A cat misses a jump and tries again.
A dog gets a cue wrong and keeps learning.
Humans often do something very different.
In this week's Lessons Across Species, I reflect on a surgical complication that stayed with me for years—and what animals have taught me about mistakes, shame, and self-forgiveness.
The Stories Humans Tell About Mistakes is now available on Substack.