Why Failure Is an Option

“Failure is not an option.”
I don’t know who came up with that quote, but I’d like to politely disagree. Failure is absolutely an option—actually, it’s inevitable. Everyone fails. And if you’re anything like me, you probably hate it. I mean really hate it. But here’s the thing: failure is one of the best teachers out there. It’s humbling, it’s frustrating, and sometimes it’s even funny (after the fact, of course).

I’ll be the first to admit I’m hard on myself when I fail. I stew, I replay it in my head, I critique every little detail. But as I get older, I’m learning to loosen my grip a little. I’m starting to see failure less as a personal flaw and more as a stepping stone. And this week, that stepping stone came in the form of pumpkin bread.

The Pumpkin Bread Disaster

Since we’re still transitioning into full-time RV life, I couldn’t find my favorite seasonal recipes. So, I did what any desperate pumpkin-lover would do: I turned to the internet. I found a pumpkin bread recipe that checked all the boxes. Naturally sweetened? Check. Used sourdough discard (which I had way too much of)? Check. Gorgeous photos? Check. Five-star reviews? Check.

I was so confident in this recipe that I even documented the whole process, thinking if it wasn’t perfect, I could tweak it later. That way, I’d know exactly what I did. And let me tell you—I followed that recipe to a T.

The result? A big, fat, disappointing 1 star. Honestly, if I could have given it zero, I would have. The texture was off, the flavor was flat, and the cloves were so overpowering it felt like I’d just chewed on a holiday candle. Chris took one bite and confirmed my suspicions: this bread was a disaster.

I was frustrated. This blogger had been featured in a magazine for her “amazing” recipe, and here I was tossing the whole loaf straight into the trash. But instead of sulking (okay, maybe I sulked a little), I decided to pivot.

From Failure to Muffins

Out of the ashes of that sad loaf came something better: Cozy Maple Pumpkin Muffins. I scrapped the bread recipe, leaned into what I know and love—naturally sweetened baking—and created a muffin recipe that actually worked. Moist, flavorful, warmly spiced, and topped with a pecan crumb that makes them feel bakery-worthy.

So yes, the bread was a total fail. But did I learn something? Absolutely. I learned the kind of food blogger I don’t want to be. Whether I have five followers or five thousand, I never want to post a recipe that looks picture-perfect but tastes awful. I want honesty. I want real reviews and feedback. I want recipes that work in real kitchens—even tiny RV kitchens with limited counter space.

Because here’s the truth: life isn’t a highlight reel. And neither is cooking. Sometimes things flop. Sometimes they’re inedible. But sometimes, failure leads to something even better than what you planned.

Why I’m Grateful for Failure

I may not love failing, but I’m learning to be grateful for it. That pumpkin bread disaster gave me a recipe I’m proud of, one that I know works, and one that I’ll happily share with anyone who wants a taste of fall.

So today, my "something good" is failure. Because without it, I wouldn’t have these cozy, naturally sweetened pumpkin muffins to enjoy with my coffee. And honestly? That feels like a win.

👉 Check out the recipe for Cozy Maple Pumpkin Muffins with Pecan Crumb Topping and see for yourself how a little failure can turn into something delicious.

NOTE: And just for fun, I’m including photos of my pumpkin bread disaster. Somehow, even though I’m not a photographer, I managed to make it look appealing in the pictures—even though it was anything but! A little reminder for the day: not everything that looks good on the outside is just as wonderful on the inside. Sometimes the prettiest photos hide the biggest flops.