When?

Hello Hatters,

I am reminded of a shopping memory with my mother many years ago. We were looking at holiday decorations and she handed her selections to me for final inspection. I was surprised, but she stated that I was always good at looking for flaws in merchandise and she wanted to make the best possible choices.  It is a fond memory.

Now that I reminisce, I realize that a lot of my working career was spent searching for and implementing best practices.  Early on, part of my work included auditing artistic productions with the clients’ specifications.  That task was pretty cut and dry.  As I moved further into the accounting world, details and audits and collecting perspectives for change dominated my time.  There were no cookie cutter answers for who, what, when, where, how, and why to make changes.

Details were many; knowing in advance you can’t please everyone was just part of the equation.  Who to move where… What to change… When is the right time…. How to improve…  Why…

Mind you, this “fix it” kind of job was not a one and done kind of deal.  It was constant and demanding.  Some decisions were made quickly, and some took time and reflection.  Even though I’m retired, I find myself in that mode of operation much too frequently.  It’s almost like I need a detox of realizing I don’t have to fix everything. Actually, I need to realize I can’t fix everything.

It should be a relief that I’m not in charge.  As a writer who wears many hats just like you, it might take some therapy sessions to unpack the complexity of my efforts to control the world.  Wow!  Did I really just say that out loud?  Yes, I am a control freak.  How about you?  Let me be honest.  If I ever really thought I controlled anything, I just deceived myself.  I might have influenced situations, but the results, past, present, and future, are actually in the better hands of the Lord of all my days.  His vantage point is much better than mine. Perfect, in fact.

Wake up call!  I’m not in charge!  I can control myself and my reactions, but I don’t always do a great job of that either.  Getting a grip on my journey forward will take prayer, surrender, yielding, and much trust.  My faith walk will be much richer if I just relax.

One funny story before I sign off. I recently returned from an Alaskan cruise with my sister and brother-in-law. This was trip of a lifetime and had been in the works for about five years. (I’ll write more about this trip soon.)  My sister made all of the reservations for airline, cruise, excursions, special dinners, and passage to/from airports.  All those details were spot on. My only responsibility was to book hotel stays in Anchorage.  When we arrived at the hotel, the details were not correct.  I “fixed” my mistake and had a good laugh at the lesson.  We proceeded to an excellent restaurant for Alaskan king crab.

“When” I can move forward with Alaskan king crab, that’s a win!

MT Penny