Humility builders
Monday, April 28, 2008 at 06:43PM 
Here is the new garage door I installed this weekend on the "shed." Don't look too hard or too close. It's on. It goes up and it goes down. It looks much better than the one I removed. My skinned knuckles are healing nicely. The project didn't require a trip into town for more parts. Nobody called the police on account of bad language. Still this sort of project is definitely a challenge for me.
I woke up this morning wondering who got the "handy" genes in our family. My dad was very mechanical and my mom was a house painter, furniture restorer and the like. My brother and sister must have lucked out. I know I didn't inherit one lick of ability in this area. Any project like installing a garage door, repairing a faucet, or putting together a toy raises my humility quotient by at least 100%.
Which is a good thing.
I find that I get into the most trouble, act the most stupid, and embarrass myself the most when I am thinking too highly of myself. Getting knocked down a notch or two usually makes me a nicer person. At least for a while. I know this.
Here are a few other humility builders (oxymoron?)
- Full length mirrors (see below)
- Stupid typographical errors or just plain awkward writing in work you've made public.
- Chewing somebody out, then getting all the facts, then apologizing.
- Reading others' writing that is more profound, beautiful and thoughtful than you ever hope to create.
- Watching yourself on videotape.
- Having an article rejected by a publisher. Or two. Or three.
- Being taken to task for something you've said by someone you respect.
- Getting a pointy-haired boss cartoon taped to your door.
There are plenty of others but these come to mind.
Why is it so difficult to be grateful for the things that do us so much good?
Photo via Ian Jukes. Poster by Motivator.
Reader Comments (4)
#9 when you're comment box is empty - day after day after day.
I'm impressed that the door isn't even in the middle of the building. You were certainly thinking outside the box on that one.
Hi Amy,
I guess I look at blog entries as "ego neutral." I never really expect comments, but I do get them, it gives me a boost.
Thanks for the boost!
All the very best,
Doug
Hi MTM,
The door is perfectly centered. It's just the camera angle that makes it look off. ;-)
Doug