When the Wrong Blog Goes Out (And the Lesson That Followed)
Photo by Eduardo Ramos on Unsplash.
Join the Project of the Week Community!
Every Thursday, I share a simple yet powerful action, habit, or project to help you boost your health, happiness, and overall well-being.
If you’ve been enjoying the Project of the Week newsletter, I’d love your help in spreading the word! Invite your friends and family to join us on this journey—just click HERE to sign up.
Together, we can create a ripple effect of positivity and growth!
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Today, you were supposed to receive a blog about birthdays. About why it’s so hard to celebrate ourselves. About why taking even one day, a single day out of 365, can feel strangely uncomfortable.
Instead, you received it a month early.
Not intentionally. Not symbolically. Just… accidentally.
I know many of you noticed.
Because I noticed too, standing in the middle of the The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY.
Me and the kids were fully immersed in vacation mode. Hands-on exhibits. Noise. Laughter. That slightly chaotic, joy-filled energy that comes with doing something different on a weekday.
And then my phone started buzzing.
Text message. Another text message. Another.
“Did you mean to send this today?” “Can you recall the blog?” “You sent two blogs.”
My stomach dropped in that very specific way it does when you realize something has already happened, and you cannot undo it.
The blog that was supposed to go out on March 19th had gone out on February 19th.
A full month early.
And there I was. Not at my computer. Not in work mode. Not in a position to fix anything.
Honestly, even if I had been at home, I don’t think it was fixable.
Once it’s out, it’s out.
There is no “undo” button for an email sent to hundreds of people.
So I did the only thing I could do.
I took a deep breath.
And I reminded myself of something I’ve told so many clients over the years:
Mistakes happen when you're taking action.
Not when you’re thinking about starting. Not when you’re planning perfectly. Not when you’re waiting until everything is flawless.
Mistakes happen when you are actually doing the thing.
When you are showing up. When you are writing ahead. When you are scheduling ahead. When you are putting your work into the world.
I have always loved the quote by Theodore Roosevelt, that,"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.” The idea that it is far better to be in the arena—messy, visible, imperfect—than to be sitting safely on the sidelines, never making mistakes simply because you never try.
Last month, I was very much in the arena.
And also, very much at the Rochester Children’s Museum, holding sweatshirts and water bottles, and trying to remember where we parked.
There was a moment where I could feel the pull to fix it. To open my laptop. To shift into work mode. To let the mistake take over the day.
But it was a vacation day.
A rare one.
And the truth is, the mistake had already happened. Spending the day worrying about it would not have changed the outcome. It only would have taken me out of the moment I was actually in.
So I made a choice.
I stayed.
We kept playing. We kept exploring. We kept having the day we had planned.
And slowly, the urgency faded.
The mistake did not ruin anything.
In fact, something unexpected happened.
People read the blog.
People replied. People shared kind words. People connected with it.
The very thing I worried about, sending something imperfectly, was also the thing that reminded me why I write in the first place.
Connection doesn’t require perfection.
It just requires showing up.
There is also a practical lesson here, because you know I always come back to the practical side.
Systems are incredibly helpful. Planning ahead is incredibly helpful. Scheduling ahead is incredibly helpful.
And also, systems are run by humans.
Humans who click the wrong date sometimes.
Humans who make mistakes.
Humans who are balancing work and kids and life and everything in between.
Perfection was never the goal.
Consistency was.
Showing up was.
Being in the arena was.
So today, I mostly just want to say thank you.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for reaching out. Thank you for being here.
And, in the spirit of full transparency—if anyone does know how to recall a Squarespace marketing email after it’s been sent, I would genuinely love to know. Not because I expect perfection moving forward. But because having good tools helps support imperfect humans.
Mostly, though, this was a reminder of something deeper.
Mistakes are not evidence that you shouldn’t be doing the thing.
They are evidence that you are.
And I have a feeling this won’t be the last mistake I make.
But it also won’t be the last blog I write.
And I’m grateful you’re here for both
Ready to Get Started?
If you're feeling excited about putting this strategy into action and could use a little extra accountability and support, the It’s All in the Planning Starter Pak is here to help! Designed to set you up for success, it’s the perfect tool to keep you on track and moving forward.
Let’s make progress together—because great results start with great planning!
A Note from Happy Spaces
Our goal is simple: to add value to your life. If you think this project will be helpful, here are some steps to set yourself up for success:
Estimate how long it will take—then double it. Giving yourself extra time helps reduce stress.
Schedule it on your calendar for the week ahead. Setting a specific date increases follow-through.
Break it up if it will take more than an hour. Tackling it in smaller steps makes it more manageable.
Make a list of every action needed before you start. A clear plan helps keep you on track.
Do what works for you—you don’t have to complete every part, just what adds value to your life.
Find an Accountability Partner—having support makes it easier to stay committed.
We understand that building new habits and systems can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. For additional support, visit HappySpacesBySarah.com and let’s make organizing and planning easier together.
Creating a life you don't need a vacation from! ®
Sincerely,
Sarah Weingarten
Meet Sarah
As the oldest of nine kids with two working parents, I grew up juggling many responsibilities at home. Organization and time management became my lifeline amidst the chaos.
I attended the Cornell Hotel School and pursued my childhood dream of working in the hospitality industry. In 2016, I launched Happy Spaces, combining my passion for structure and efficiency with helping others.
I love working with students to develop essential organizational, time management, and study skills. These skills empower them to reach their full potential, build confidence, and create a future they feel good about.