The first time I cook a new dish, it’s a nightmare.
I use 2x the number of plates required. Spoons and utensils fill the sink. There are splashes and messes dotted around the kitchen.
The second time round, however, is a little smoother. The messes are little less messy. The mistakes a little less frequent. The clean-up a little more manageable.
If I judged myself on my first try, I’d be hard on myself. But give me a little time, space, and practise, and a new story emerges.
The first try is a single data point. The second, third, fourth, and fifth tries are data points that now tell a story of refinement, improvement, and persistence.
We’re usually much better the second time round.