I make mistakes. I do the best that I can, but I sometimes fail. Yet of all the lessons that Dr. Zimmer taught me during our training, one of the best was to quickly learn from those mistakes. As he quietly told me: “Learn the first time.”

I didn’t understand right away what he meant, but it wasn’t long before it began to make sense.

It’s human nature for us to claim innocence when we screw up, or to look for an excuse or - worse - a scapegoat. It’s also a sign of immaturity. During the most difficult months of our schedule at Galahad Command I watched several strong candidates for the mission fall behind. The more I thought about Dr. Zimmer’s advice, the more I recognized a weakness in them: the inability to admit a mistake, and learn from it the first time.

If we spend too much time making excuses, rather than acknowledging a mistake and using it as an opportunity to improve, we simply end up making the same mistake again and again. The old saying about learning from our mistakes can only apply when we admit that we’re human, and that we sometimes fail. That’s the moment where we learn, and grow. Otherwise we’re simply wasting an opportunity to truly learn from a mistake.

I make mistakes because I haven’t yet learned. But thanks to Dr. Zimmer, I’m determined to make a particular mistake only once.

The other day Channy said something that struck me as funny, but also very interesting. She said, “You never really know somebody until you’ve seen them angry. That tells you everything.”

I laughed, but then I thought about it later and realized that she might be on to something. When you first meet somebody you’re usually on your best behavior. We all seem to put on a mask, don’t we?

And yet when we lose our cool I think we say and do things naturally, without any thought to how it will sound or look. How much of that is real, how much of it is influenced by emotion, and does it really open you up like a book?

As strange as this might sound, I think I know more about Bon than anyone else on the ship. Lita is a great friend, and we confide in each other. But when it comes to really knowing someone, I can’t help but feel like I read Bon very well. He’s often angry, which bothers me, but I suppose the silver lining of that anger is that there are no masks on that guy.

So, what does that say about us? What does that say about how we communicate with each other? Seems to me we all have some work to do on showing our true feelings, rather than hiding behind a veil. If we could openly share our real thoughts and feelings without waiting for an angry spell, wouldn’t we all be better off?

I’m an only child, which means that I can’t compare my personality to a brother or a sister. But I’m always amazed at how very different siblings can be. Because they have the same parents, and are raised in the same environment, we expect them to act pretty much the same. But that rarely happens.

My uncle could not have been more different than Dad. They were only sixteen months apart in age, but while Dad was quiet and - in my opinion - extremely wise, Uncle T. was loud, impulsive, and, from what I’ve heard, was often in trouble. During one of our hiking trips I asked Dad about it.

“Wired differently,” he said. When I gave him my puzzled look, he explained that some people are genetically wired to be outgoing and impulsive, while a smaller percentage are more likely to sit back, observe, and process information.

During our time aboard Galahad, it’s been interesting to see those two very different styles in the crew. I’m convinced that Gap and Channy are go-getters, while Bon and I are firmly in the “sit back and observe” camp. Lita might seem to be in the middle, but I think it’s only because she works to hold back her natural impulses. She counts to ten.

I’ve also realized that neither type can really survive without the other. Together we create a strong team, each side providing a strength that benefits the whole. If we all acted impulsively, mistakes would be made; if we all sat back and analyzed and processed, nothing would ever get done. It’s the balance of the two that moves us forward successfully.

(What do you think about this, Galahad fans? Have you noticed a different personality style between you and your siblings? What benefit do you see in having a (What do you think about this, Galahad fans? Have you noticed a different personality style between you and your siblings? What benefit do you see in having a team with a variety of styles? Do you agree with Triana that a mixture of both is the formula for group success? What are the pros and cons of each? And, what style are you? Post your thoughts here, and share this journal entry with any friends or family members that you think might enjoy it. And thanks for supporting the Galahad series!)

I try not to dwell too much on the “Earth calendar.” I’m aware of the date, but I suppose I prefer to disconnect from the natural associations that I would make back home.

But it’s difficult. I know that this week marks the first week of spring where I grew up, which means I would be breaking out my warm-weather clothes, planning another white-water rafting trip with my dad and friends, and hiking. All of that now lies a few billion miles behind me. When the seasons change aboard Galahad, nothing really changes.

Or maybe…

I believe that we have our own internal, personal seasons. As we grow and experience more of life, we change. Some of our relationships, which just a few months earlier seemed in full bloom, might now seem to be fading. New relationships, in contrast, seem to burst into life from nowhere.

And all of this could apply to so many things in our lives. Interests, hobbies, passions; they all seem to have their own life cycle, their own seasons. Some even fade for a while, and then rush back again. We are fluid creatures, always in motion, always evolving, always - like the seasons - changing.

So, while I do my best to distract myself from thoughts of Earth’s progression through the calendar, deep inside I know that Mother Earth has imprinted some of her characteristics upon me.

(What do you think, Galahad fans? Are you sometimes surprised by a shift in your thinking? Does it bother you? Is it hard for you to accept these changes, or do you welcome them? What do you think of Triana’s comparison to a planet’s gradual swing through the various seasons? What season do are YOU in right now, personally? You’re encouraged to post your thoughts, and to share Triana’s Journal with your friends and family. Thank you for visiting Club Galahad!)

It seems that I don’t ever have enough “alone time” these days, so when I’m able to sit by myself I put it to good use. Although it’s sometimes difficult, I find that sitting quietly and calming my busy mind, turning down the inner volume, is something I need to do. That’s when I’m able to really think through anything that is disturbing me.

Lately, during my quiet moments, I have tried to embrace the concept of letting go. When I have worked through every possible solution, when I have done all that I can to fix what is wrong, sometimes I simply have to let it go. That’s hard for me, I realize. But I’m also learning that it is the only way to save myself. Let it go. More worrying, more biting my lip – Yes, Dad, I’m still biting my lip! – will not make the problem go away.

That doesn’t mean forgetting my responsibilities. It means that I recognize what I can affect, what I can change, what I can make better, and then focus my energies in that direction. We all worry about things that we think we can fix, when in reality we can not. Spending more time fretting about these things can only cause damage to ourselves, maybe even create a feeling that “I’m not good enough.” The truth is, we ARE good enough…we just sometimes take on more than we can handle.

Calm, peaceful, still. I am strong, I am powerful in ways that go far beyond physical strength, I am stretching my mind, my spirit, myself. What keeps me from growing will always be something that I choose to hold on to, something that I have given power to. Instead, I need to let it go.

During a break in our training at Galahad Command - those hectic days before we left Earth seem so long ago - several of us were sitting on a hillside outside our dorms. None of us wanted to say it aloud, but we were trying to absorb as much of the blue sky and fresh air as we could before…

Gap was doing his usual good job of making us laugh. At one point he said something that none of us got right away. But about three seconds later it sank in, and we all busted up again. I don’t remember what it was about now, but I do remember that Gap called it a ‘joke grenade.’

“It’s a joke that you have to think about,” he told us. “And then, BAM! It’s a joke grenade”

As I get older I realize that a lot of the wisdom that my dad shared with me is like a grenade, too. At the time he told me, it didn’t always register. But then, as time passes, and as I experience more of life, it suddenly goes off.

Here’s one example that comes to mind. I remember Dad talking to me about character. He told me his favorite definition of the word: “Character is doing what’s right when nobody is watching.”

At twelve I think I barely grasped what he meant, but as I mature a little more it begins to make sense. From observing others I see how people sometimes mask their true character in front of others. That’s often why we’re surprised by them later. We only see what they want us to see, and we do the same to them. We’re all actors, in a way.

Our character - including our values, our beliefs, our ethical qualities - simmers behind the curtain. I think I not only needed to witness this in others, but I had to mature a bit more before I could see it in myself, as well. My character is shaped not through what I want people to see, but through what goes on within my heart.

As with so many others things that I’ve begun to recognize in this last year, it’s obvious that Dad could lob his share of wisdom grenades.

(Now it’s your turn, Galahad fans. Think about that definition of character; do you see how you might - or might not - pass the test of having a “good character?” Do you find yourself only doing the right thing when other people are looking on? What if you took the next few days to quietly observe yourself and your actions. What do you think you might discover? As with all of Triana’s Journal entries, you’re invited to share your thoughts. And thanks for visiting Club Galahad!)

What defines maturity?

It’s one of those things that doesn’t have a simple answer. Today, when I heard a crew member accuse someone of being immature, it suddenly made me remember a talk I had with my dad during one of our hikes. I had probably been giving him some attitude or something, but instead of scolding me he shook his head.  He told me that I might think I was acting quite superior at the time, but in reality I was doing the exact opposite. I was as far from mature as I could get.

Over the next half-hour he opened my eyes to some things that I had never considered. I think this journal is a good place to record my memories of our ‘maturity discussion.’

Here the first one I remember. “You think you’re acting like an adult when you do the things you want to do,” my dad said. “But actually a sign of maturity is doing the things you don’t want to do.”

Of course, like most pearls of wisdom, it didn’t sink in right away. But it’s something I’ve come to appreciate more and more, especially with my responsibilities on Galahad.

When we’re very young, life is all about doing the things that we enjoy. We always want to do what we want, when we want to. In a way we almost expect the universe to revolve around our wishes and desires. It’s when you truly begin to mature that you understand all of the things that you don’t want to do, but that must be done.

This shows up in a lot of different ways. One is in taking responsibility, whether it’s property or other people. Deep down we’d rather just play, or ignore the things that need to get done, but we can’t. Someone has to be responsible. That person is usually the most mature.

Another example would be in doing the things that will actually be better for us. When we’re kids, we don’t want to think about that stuff. As we begin to mature, we learn to accept that it’s not always the easy path that’s the best. There are times we just have to do something because it’s the right thing. That’s a key sign of maturity.

I remember one other thing my dad said about this. “True maturity is when you do these things quietly, without drawing attention to the fact that you’re doing them.” In other words, if you have to announce to the world that you’re put out by doing something, but you’ll still do it anyway…well, then you’ve still got a bit of growing up to do.

So that was Maturity Lesson #1 from my dad. From time to time I’ll jot down the others that I remember.

(Okay, Galahad readers, do you have thoughts on this? Did Triana’s dad give you something new to think about? Do you remember a time when you suddenly realized that your own wants and desires had to take a back seat? Do you think you matured a bit when that happened? As with all of Triana’s journal entries, you’re invited to post your comments right here. And thank you for supporting the Galahad series!)

I met Lita and Channy for breakfast this morning, and Lita said something that made me stop and think. When Channy asked her something personal, Lita said (with a smirk): “Do you really want to know what I think about that, or do you want me to sugar-coat it?”

We’re funny that way, aren’t we? If Lita hadn’t framed it like that, I’m sure Channy would have secretly wanted the gentle, sugar-coated answer. I think by nature we all hope to hear only what we want to hear.

But when we have it positioned as “truth versus feelings,” it seems to trigger the realistic portion of our mind; it’s as if we take a step back and evaluate what really is in our best interest.

We often need the outside perspective of another person to fully see and hear what’s best for us. It’s probably one of the traits that makes us a social species, rather than lone wolves. We do indeed need each other, and this is simply another reason why.

And, for what it’s worth, Channy didn’t appreciate the truth she heard from Lita. That’s definitely another journal entry for another day…

(Okay, Galahad fans, it’s your turn to sound off. What do you think of Triana’s idea that we really do need each other in order to see the truth? Do you find that, if left to yourself, you tend to either lie to yourself about something, or pretend to not see the true answers? Do you think that your friends really want you to be honest with them all the time, or do they maybe only want you to reinforce their own feelings about something? How do you balance that? Feel free to not only post your thoughts here, but also know that you’re encouraged to share Triana’s posts with your friends. Thanks for supporting the Galahad series!)

We’re creeping up on the end of a calendar year. It seems people often use this time to do two things: reflect on choices they’ve made over the past year, and think about what they might do better.

When I was twelve, I remember a New Year’s resolution that my dad shared with me. He said: “In this next year I plan to aim higher.” I must have given him a curious look, so he explained.

He told me that it was something he learned from his own father. “Too many times we don’t give ourselves enough credit,” he said. “We set our sights low, thinking that anything else would be too difficult to reach. But, what we find is that ‘doing just enough’ often doesn’t bring us a sense of fulfillment. And, surprisingly, by aiming a little higher we find that it brings out the best in us. In fact, it brings out qualities and talents that we might never know we had.”

It was one of the few lessons that my dad repeated to me over the years, as if he couldn’t stress enough how important it was to set higher goals, to run an extra half-mile, or to study just a few minutes longer. No, I don’t always achieve every single goal…but I accomplish way more than I would if I simply settled.

No matter where we are in our lives, no matter what our circumstances, and no matter what obstacles might stand in our way, we always have the option of aiming higher. And, in the process, we just might discover things we never before thought possible. It might be the best resolution we can make.

(It’s your turn, Galahad fans. Do you aim high? Or are you satisfied with just getting by, with doing ‘good enough’? Do you think it’s connected to your confidence? Is it a trait that you’re born with, or do you think it’s a strategy that can be learned? As always, you’re encouraged to share your thoughts right here. And thank you for visiting Club Galahad often!)

The crew members of Galahad come from many nations on Earth, so not everyone was raised with the tradition of Thanksgiving. But since we’ve chosen to follow the standard Earth calendar during our journey, some of us can’t help but note the arrival of the American holiday. I spent some time last night thinking about the concept of giving thanks.

I guess most of us automatically assume that we can only be grateful when things go well. We’re all aboard this ship because of a series of tragic events, but even so it caused me to re-think the idea of giving thanks. It would be easy, I guess, to be cynical and angry about the curse of Comet Bhaktul, about what it did to our civilization, and about how it took dad’s life.

I’m sad, of course, but at the same time I have to be thankful for so many things. Human life on Earth was doomed, but so many people spent their final days working hard to make sure that we have a chance to live. I’m also grateful for my fellow crew members, and for their dedication to this mission. And I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned about myself over the past two years.

I think more than anything, though, I’m thankful for everything I learned from dad. I’m grateful for the time he spent with me. He even submitted my name to the people putting the Galahad mission together - without me knowing about it - and I’ll always be thankful to him for that.

Things don’t always work out the way we want them, and yet we’d be foolish to not find things to be thankful for. This Thanksgiving I’m aware of it more than ever.

(Your turn, Galahad fans. You don’t have to celebrate an official holiday like Thanksgiving to appreciate many things in your life. Can you think of how difficult times might also somehow provide reasons to be grateful? Have you ever set aside time to simply give thanks? Consider Triana’s observations, and see how they apply in your own life.)