My dreams stuck me in a bad memory.  I woke up angry and I needed this infection purged.  I stumble to the shower and I settle the rest of my birthday morning in a tiled corner, reliving the bitter taste of a dish I knew I hated.  I don’t like eating bad memories for breakfast, and I trembled at the thought of the leftovers I’d have for lunch.

The menu needed to be rewritten.

Smash memories aren’t any different.  I’ve torn whole pages out of my Smash Career because I loathed the way things turned out.  I play matches again in my head.  I react differently to crowd **** talk.  I grit my teeth instead of tossing the controller across the room.

Could I have avoided these?  Is there even a way to prepare for a ledge-stalling Donkey Kong? A Toon Link from the Midwest? Or an unexpected ROB from Japan?  Are these even mistakes?

One Smash trait that many players have trouble coming to terms with is forgiving themselves.  As a player I’ve held myself accountable for events and actions I had no control over.  Do you think my self-esteem likes it when I give it **** for no good reason?  Do you think it’ll change anything for the better if I keep bringing myself down?  It’s important to learn from what has happened before, but it’s also important to give yourself space and understanding and love.  You don’t want to commit psychological suicide every time a drizzle ruins your picnic.

**** happens.

And while it took me a couple minutes to dry myself off and stumble my way back to my room, I began replacing poor memories with better attitudes.  I’ll smile again.  I’ll breathe.  I’ll get started on telling myself, “Hey Oats, you’re not perfect.  Just get out there and keep being floatie.”