The Best Teacher

I've watched a lot of people make bad choices.  Regrettable stupid choices. Can't-you-see-what-trouble-you're-getting-into! choices. It's perfectly obvious to everyone looking where these choices are headed. Toward regret, of course.
I've always determined to learn from other people's mistakes. I don't want to end up looking as stupid as they did. I don't want to live with the consequences they're dealing with. I don't want to be categorized in the Stupid Choices Group along with them. Because of course I'm definitely not as stupid as they were.

Unfortunately I'm making a stupid mistake right there, by forgetting the well-known proverb about the most effective way of learning: Experience is the best teacher.

I guess I should've realized
 I couldn't avoid joining the Stupid Choices Group. Just look at me now. I'm making those same stupid  choices. Those same obvious mistakes. Those same can't-you-see-what-you're doing-to-yourself!? mistakes. Where did my idealisms, all those vital life-lessons-learned-by-watching-others disappear to the minute I needed them?

Experience is the best teacher. Observing isn't the best teacher; Hearing isn't the best teacher. Hands-on Experience is the best teacher. And right now, in the midst of intense Experience, I'm regretting my earlier judgements of others. And I'm learning from Experience, the best teacher