i used to take pride in my ability to learn from my mistakes. there i was, saying to myself, "once bitten, twice shy", striving to avoid repeating any course of action that had ever proven unsuccessful. now i follow a different creed, "if at first i dont succeed, try, try, try, try, try, try, try again." at least, that's what i like to tell myself. actually, secretly, i often find my judgment being swayed towards mistake avoidance. i often fall for the persuasive nature of the notion.