The tool box
I am extremely fortunate to grow up with one of the wisest men I’ve ever met as my father. Among the greatest lessons he has taught me is the concept of our lives “Tool Box”. Looking back at our lives, I’m sure we have all been in circumstances we wish could have avoided, made decisions we regret, or hoped for a better outcome. Maybe we tried but failed. Trusted but got deceived. Miscalculated our certainty. Maybe we feel we “wasted” days, weeks, years to a hopeless cause. We look at these trying times with negativity, wishing to change or erase the past. What we often don’t look at is the valuable lessons these situations brought into the story of our lives.
When we are born, we are given an empty tool box. Over the years, each failure, set back, and change of course equates to a “tool” we can use in the future. Every new tool is earned, never given for free. The more courage we have to venture outside of our comfort zones, the more diverse and plentiful our tool box becomes. As we add more tools, we become more prepared to build, fix, and navigate what lies ahead. Some tools we may use more than others, but all are valuable in creating the lives we want to live. This concept applies to the positive experiences in life as well. The balancing act between our failures and wins gives us the tools to determine what works and what doesn't and what we want and do not want out of our lives.
The more we use each tool, the more confidence and expertise we gain. Picture a construction worker building a home. Without being equipped with the right tools and experience, a safe and sturdy home could not be built. How could we dig a hole for a foundation without a shovel? Have accurate measurements without a tape measure? Precisely cut wood for walls without a saw? Secure those walls for stability and support without nails? The more houses he/she builds, the better he/she gets. The more tools, the more efficient. Now picture this relating to your life. How is building the frame of our lives any different?
So get out there, get your heart broken, try a few jobs, accidentally leave your refrigerator door open, the skies the limit! Just throw these experiences in your tool box. It’s up to you how you use them next!