The word "mistake"

I've been thinking a lot lately about the word "mistake." These thoughts resurfaced this morning when I was listening to Alex Rodriguez talking about his illegal drug use as a "mistake." This isn't the first time that I've had these thoughts about the misuse of that word. To me...a "mistake" cannot be a repeated bad decision. I don't think taking multiple injections of an illegal substance constitutes a "mistake." I don't think having an affair can be called a "mistake." I don't think if you make a repeated conscious decision to DO something, it can be called a "mistake." Even errors in judgment...that we all make from time to time...if REPEATED (that is to say...making the same or even a similar error in judgment or bad decision) can be excused or even apologized for by saying, "I made a mistake." If Michael Phelps ONLY smoked pot that one time and got caught doing so in a photo, I might consider that making a "mistake" but actually I think making an "error in judgement" or a "bad decision" would be more accurate. I might think of it as making a "mistake" if it only happened once (which, quite frankly, I doubt).

If I pull out in front of oncoming traffic because I think I have room to make it when I really don't, THAT'S a mistake. It could have horrible and tragic consequences for which I would be HUGELY sorry, but I still call that a mistake or an error in judgement.

If I fail to close the door all the way after letting Dixie in, that's a mistake; or if I forget to lock the door when leaving the house, that's a mistake.

But to make a CONSCIOUS and REPEATED decision to do something wrong...I don't think that constitutes a mistake and I think people get off too easy when they apologize for "making a mistake."