It’s a famous song covered by many singers helping us deal with heartbreak: “The First Cut Is the Deepest.” As a way of looking at the world, however, it might be a touch too cynical. After all, who wants to sit around after getting hit the first time, merely hoping future blows will hurt less? Down here on Earth, we take our lessons, and we learn from them!
Five years ago, I was staying at my girlfriend’s house for an extended period for the first time. After doing my daily workout, I’d often jump up from the floor, full of renewed energy. One time, I was sitting with my torso upright and my legs extended. My girlfriend reached out her hands, I gave her mine, and she pulled me up as I swung myself forward, trying to get up in one swift motion. The pain in my right knee was instant, and I collapsed right back onto the floor.
I hadn’t suffered it in years, but it wasn’t a new sensation. Way back when, during football freestyle practice, I used to sometimes twist my knee. Imagine one of your joints rotating 90 degrees to one side, then snapping back. Ouch! As I lay there, holding my leg and rubbing my kneecap, I imprinted one idea onto my brain: “You just can’t get up that fast. Be careful when you rise.” To this day, I get up slowly after every morning workout.
You’re not a punching bag! You can learn. Adapt. Ideally never twice. For many mistakes, the first cut is deep enough.
Yesterday, I literally cut myself. One of the knives in the knife drawer faced the other way. I put in a clean one, pulled out my hand and…zing! The gash was deep. It bled. I’m on my third round of bandaids and balm. I’ll enjoy this one for a while, I think. But I’ll also hopefully never store a knife in a hurry ever again.
Slow healing makes the lesson last—and that’s okay if you don’t have to learn it again. Let the first cut be deep enough.
