When I was in college, I considered any restaurant with a $0.99 menu fine dining.

Anytime friends invited me to lunch, and there was a $0.99 menu, I was in.

When I asked my college girlfriend where she wanted to go for date night, I secretly prayed for a place with a $0.99 menu.

It wasn’t that I loved food that cost less than a buck; it was what I could afford.

Recently, while celebrating with Leslie over a nice lunch, we reflected on fond memories of $0.99 menu experiences.

Without those early years of building great memories with cheap food and enjoyable people, I’m not sure I’d appreciate the life I have now as much.

I believe mistakes should serve us much in the same way.

The mistakes we make can serve as the building blocks for developing us into the leaders—and people—we are capable of becoming.

Berating ourselves and complaining about mistakes is painful, pointless, and annoying.

But reflecting, learning, and growing from experiences can turn mistakes into useful—and sometimes pleasant—memories.  

So, do you complain about your $0.99 memories, or do you allow them to shape the direction you’re going?