The quarterback remembers the interception he threw that ended up losing the game.
The baseball player cannot forget his strikeout with the bases loaded, down by two in the ninth inning.
The sales woman is reminded regularly about failing to close the largest deal of her career.
These failures in all facets of different professions are what haunt us and keep us driving forward.
As a photographer, all of the shots I miss consume me. It's a bit silly, but for someone who takes the job seriously, it can be torture.
One moment stands out to me in particular.
As I was preparing for our anniversamoon to Bora Bora, I could not help but encounter amazing online views of this island from a plane. I knew that one thing was a must--to make sure to seize a window seat to Bora Bora from our connection in Tahiti. I had to get pictures. It was serious business.
Since the airline is awfully small, there are no seat assignments, so you just get in line to get on the plane. Despite having a 2-3 hour wait time, that didn't stop me from sitting right at the gate. As the crowds started to build, I then sat on the floor nonverbally saying to them:
okay everyone-- behind me!
I was not letting the moment go. Early bird gets the worm.
Finally, it was time, and to my dismay, they invited all the families first. That meant about a dozen people swiftly walked past me with their boarding passes, smiles on their faces.
I was anxious and got in the plane and found a window seat. I even scanned each window to make sure I got one that was a clean and clear as possible. It was a relief.
The plane took off and I was boiling with excitement. My camera, held in hand, was locked and loaded. I stared out the window as we made our short journey to the island.
I stared at the blank ocean water, getting ready for the barrage of teals, blues, and the onslaught of other tropical colors and flavors that would soon punch my eyes (and camera) from the beauty of a bird's eye view.
This was the moment I was waiting for.
I looked across the aisle and saw the lady across the aisle on the opposite window (She brought her teenagers and boarded before me, family-style). She had this look of awe on her face and suddenly the left side of the plane turned into chaos led by her muffled screams of excitement. Their reactions to the beautiful scene spilled over to me and I was thrilled to see what was coming!
Nothing.
Two minutes later---nothing.
The lady took her cell phone out and was taking photos faster than a machine gun. With each picture came more delight for her. With each passing moment of nothingness came complete and utter misery for me. How could I be seeing nothing but water?
The island was so small that only half of the plane would be able to catch the visual feast.
I see the moment now in my mind in slow motion as this woman took her phone and waved it around in glee shouting "Look at this one. Oh, my, look at that!"
I was paralyzed in my seat on the right when the worst moment came---you could feel the plane descending to our destination.
All I could see was a message mocking my mistake.
The reality was that my side of the plane would see absolutely zilch while the other side would hog the visual spectacle the entire flight.
I started my trip to paradise with a serious pouting baby tantrum. I'm embarassed to admit this since we just landed in a destination that cannot be described.
How about the return trip?! What about that? Make it happen, Kyle!
I took out the itinerary for our return flight, only to learn that it would be in darkness, and I would not have the opportunity to see it from above.
The (maybe) once-in-a-lifetime moment was lost forever.
This was my interception, my strikeout, my lost deal.
Despite the homework I had done, it was not enough to fully understand the situation at hand.
Failure is a lesson learned. Success is a lesson applied.
-Anonymous
I think about this moment often. It haunts me always which is why it helps me create new successes.
