Note: This is a break in My Reach to Optimize series
I interrupt ‘My Reach to Optimize’ series, for this special insight!
This morning I experienced a moment worth noting, sharing, and bringing to your attention.
Despite appearances, none of us are perfect and none of us are worthless. Each of us is doing the best we can with what we’ve been taught and have experienced. We each face problems unseen by others. We each have challenges, seemingly unsurmountable until we discover they’re not.
A lifelong challenge for me is my deep-seated fear I’m not enough. This surfaces in many ways; one surfaced last night while watering the lawn. About 9 pm, I happened to notice a sprinkler head, Station 3, in the middle of the sprinkler run, wasn’t functioning properly – water was gushing out like a giser.
We’re in the middle of a drought. I couldn’t ignore it. I stopped watering Station 3, skipped to Station 4 and figured I would replace the head. I visualized how I would figure out how to take it apart and put it together again. I’m not comfortable doing handyman tasks. As simple as this sounded – I dreaded it.
I never have been good at this type of activity; it’s just one of my achilles heels. I generally delay and then have a professional or skilled tradesman come out to fix rather than work on it only to mess it up and then have someone come out.
I went to check on it this morning and discovered the complete station had simply come loose, unscrewed. It was just sitting loose in the ground.
I laughed and thought back to the countless times I’ve delayed only to discover that if I had taken care of it when it surfaced it would have cost me a lot less.
Have you experienced something similar?
Many of us have. It’s common practice. Indeed, a mechanic friend confided that was a large part of his business. It’s the timeless ‘Straw that broke the camel’s back’ insight. Customers delay a simple task until it pops – and cannot delay longer. This gives him a lot of repair jobs. Makes him a lot of money.
I bring this to your attention because we generally think it’s just us. We don’t/can’t see others have these situations, so we assume it’s only “me.” It’s tempting and easy to think we’re the ones having/facing problems. Or the problems others face are not as difficult as the ones we face.
Everyone, even the rich and famous, face challenges. Hell Yeah is Neil Diamond’s story giving his experience. I listen and sometimes karaoke it to inspire me. He asks himself “Is it worth it?” Certainly, I have found his conclusion accurate. Give it a listen and see what you think.
Think about it. Neil Diamond, influential, popular entertainer, 30 plus years at the top of his career, shares that although many think that he appears to have it all together — he’s just trying to get it right!
And he encourages us — me, you, each of us — to keep trying. Even when all appears lost – don’t lose hope – you’ll get there!
If nothing else, remember, it’s not about the destination so stay on your journey’s course.
Refuse to give up, and you’ll get it right. Do this and when the time comes, we’ll leave this earth on our own terms. On our journey. How does it get better than that?
Until next time,
Joe