I Missed It: Second Chances and Practicing Self-Compassion

This morning, I had one of those moments. You know, the kind where you wake up early, prepare, sit at your laptop, turn on Zoom, and… nothing. No meeting. No one on the other side. Just me and my laptop screen.

I was really looking forward to this interview with an amazing woman (hopefully you will all meet her soon). So, when she didn’t show up, I knew something was off. I double-checked our email exchanges and there it was—our meeting time was actually five hours later. Double bummer.

In a flurry of embarrassment, I sent an immediate apology and asked for another time. And now, I’m waiting. Waiting for two things: her reply and my ability to forgive myself. Because if I’m not careful, I could spend the whole day in a fog of self-criticism.

But here’s the thing—it happens to all of us. Especially during menopause, when brain fog can sneak up on you when you least expect it. One of my favorite people, whom I’ll call GP, has this great line: “Anyone else, or just me?” and then he raises his hand. So, I’m asking that question to Google now… and to all of you.

Do you miss stuff? Just totally forget or put the time on your calendar wrong? What do you do after you realize it? And, do you feel worse when it’s a business-related event or a personal one? I’m curious to hear what you have to share.

For me, I can feel it in my body—a tightness in my chest that lingers. It’s a doozy. But, like today, I’ve done it before and I’ll probably do it again. The key is, how fast can I recover and make amends?

Missing a meeting, especially one you’re excited about, can be tough. But we’re human, and as long as we approach our mistakes with grace and humility, we can move forward. If you’re wondering, you’re not alone—people miss meetings all the time. In fact, studies suggest that around 10-15% (I thought it would be higher but maybe in menopause it's more like 100% 🤣) of people admit to missing meetings due to mix-ups, miscommunication, or just plain forgetting.

So, here’s to bouncing back quickly, forgiving ourselves, and showing up even stronger the next time.