Remember Grandma’s Wisdom

It started with an appliance delivery that resulted in a dropped dishwasher which I sent back. I’d spent hours on the phone with the big-box appliance company arranging for a new unit, and now trying to figure out why that replacement dishwasher hadn’t arrived. When it finally arrived, it, too, was damaged and had to be returned, so it was back to the phone. As if that wasn’t enough, the cable company decided to join in, hitting me with misinformation about my equipment problems. Each phone call sent me spiraling further into a loop of "Please hold," department transfers, and scripted apologies. After several days of this, I was beyond frustrated—I was furious.

It was the kind of anger that makes you mutter to yourself while pacing the room. But in my rage, I remembered my grandma’s inspiration box, a little treasure trove of wisdom I’d collected to fix a bad day. Desperate, I pulled out a small bit of paper: "I accept the gifts before me, and I accept the best in everyone, including myself."

It stopped me in my tracks. Here I was, ready to verbally wrestle customer service reps, and this little quote reminded me that I wasn’t exactly being my best self. I had let my emotions hijack several days.

I realized I could approach these situations differently. I can manage my expectations, step away when things get heated, and keep perspective—it's just a dishwasher and some cable equipment, certainly not the end of the world.

So, here’s my pledge: to pause, to laugh at the absurdity, and to remember Grandma’s wisdom.