Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 211 – Making Adjustments

Mahler · 04-21-2008, 08:01 AM

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 211 – Making Adjustments

Making Adjustments (04-21-08)

Let’s take a nice comfy seat in the Wayback Machine this morning and I will transport you on a little trip into Mahler pre-history. Long before I took on the persona of Mahler and when my wife, Ruth, and I were poor parochial school teachers, we learned some very valuable skills. We learned how to make adjustments.

While some of our friends were buying the house of their dreams, we bought what might be called a fixer-upper and, through hard work, made it our own house of dreams. Summer would come and while many headed to the beach, a resort, or some tourist location, Ruth and I would spend a week at her brother’s cottage on a little lake in north western, Pennsylvania. We took bikes, a grill, some board games and by making a few adjustments, we had some pretty memorable vacations. There are some that we still talk about fondly to this day.

I can also recall that while folks with more means would head out to amusement parks and other attractions on the weekends, Ruth and I would plan a picnic, usually on a Sunday, since Saturday was spent working on that dream house of ours. I remember one picnic in particular. We had worked very hard all week on yet another project in the house and really needed a break. Sunday came and so did the rains. We decided to chance it in hopes that the weather would cooperate. It didn’t. We had packed a nice lunch, headed out to our favorite spot near a stream, and the rains continued. Before we left, however, something in the back of my mind told me to take the middle seat out of our second hand mini-van. When we got there, it was evident that a picnic was impossible. So, we positioned the side of the van facing the stream, climbed in the back, spread out the blanket on the floor where I had removed the seat, opened the sliding door, and had picnic that is still lodged in our memories.

Fast forward in the time machine and here we are in the present. Ruth and I performed in a play over the weekend. Yes, I do that, too. We had rehearsed for over a month for a dinner theater production. When we arrived at the hall, we found out that all of our entrances would have to be made from the left side of the stage instead of the right as we had rehearsed. It was time to make some quick adjustments and the play was a success.

All of this was hammered home recently, when I had a minor injury during a morning battle with the weights. By making a few adjustments, I was able to complete the workout. Making some further adjustments, I found a way to continue my training, until the injury heals. I take my cue from friends who I know have had to make adjustments for much more serious injuries. No, it’s not the training I had planned, but it’s working for me and I am still making progress. It’s what you have to do and it is as much a skill as anything you will learn.

Adjustments are the things you make to keep on track. Adjustments are the things you make instead of giving up. Adjustments are the things you make instead of making excuses. The next time you are tempted to throw in the towel, don’t give up, don’t make excuses, just make a few adjustments.

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Have a Great Week!

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