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Every day can’t be perfect
If every day was perfect, would any of them actually be?
Nathan Kochera
August 05, 2025
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September 22nd, 2023 was a bad day.
I woke up feeling off. I had spent the whole week anxiously waiting to hear back from a job interview and the stress was catching up to me.
Still, I had hope. That evening I had a flight home for my cousin’s wedding, a weekend I had been looking forward to for months.
Just to be safe, I went to the doctor that morning to make sure I wasn’t bringing any illnesses home. All the rapid tests came back negative — hooray!
The weekend was on. All I had left was one afternoon class before heading to the airport.
Then came the double whammy.
After class I checked my email…
First email:
Thanks for taking the time to interview, but unfortunately…
The dreaded email anyone that has ever applied for a job can spot from a mile away. I was crushed.
But it didn’t stop there.
Second email:
Hi Nathan,
Your second test for strep came back positive.
And I was devastated. My whole week was riding on the job and the wedding, and just like that they were GONE.
That day was far from perfect.
In the moment, I would have done anything for it to have gone better.
But looking back, I’ve learned to appreciate the imperfect days.
Because you can’t truly appreciate perfection without imperfection.
It’s like the saying:
Our highest highs are only as big as our lowest lows.
The perfect moments are fueled by the imperfect ones.
Life isn’t a smooth, predictable path. It’s more like a roller coaster.
And the slow climb — the noise, the tension, the discomfort — it may feel endless while you’re in it.
But without it, the drop wouldn’t feel nearly as thrilling.
So next time your day doesn’t go as planned, take a deep breath.
You might just be clicking your way to the best part of the ride
🌱 This week’s step worth taking
When you have a bad day or something inevitably goes wrong this week, appreciate it.
Verbally say:
I’m glad I was able to go through this today.
Because poor experiences are what make the great ones so special.
📚 Worth the Read
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir — great science fiction read! I couldn’t put it down so I read it in a day.
Some may be surprised that I don’t only read non-fiction 😂 I discussed this book with this week’s step spotlight recipient so it felt fitting to recommend.
🔄 Misstep of the week
Last week I wasn’t feeling well before bed and started worrying about whether or not I should golf the next morning.
As a result, I spent more time worrying than enjoying the moment.
Too often I over-stress about what could happen.
I’m going to stop worrying about the possibilities and start living out reality.
🙌 Step Spotlight
A great community step shared by Kyle this week:
Every morning I start my day with coffee and a book out on the porch. It’s my quiet time to check in with myself before all the noise starts. That little routine clears my mind from the daily hustle and bustle and helps me focus on what I want to get done. I’ve been knocking out a chapter a day and getting back into reading. It feels good to have that calm moment before the day takes off without my phone.
I’m sure all of our morning routines could take a page out of Kyle’s book. Keep it up Kyle! 📚
Want to be featured in next week’s Step Spotlight? Respond to this issue with a step you’ve taken that you’re proud of.
Until next week.
Step by step,
Nathan
P.S. In case anyone hasn’t seen, there is a feedback poll below this. Would love to know what you thought of the issue 🙏
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