Monday, October 15, 2007

Gratitude Monday - One Problem Solves Another

Have you ever been grateful for a screw-up?

I have.

Last week I deposited a bit of money in the bank, but accidentally directed it to savings, not chequing.
I put the bank slip on my desk and ignored it for two days. The unusually high balance eventually caught my eye and in a moment I realized what I’d done.

Instead of a relaxing morning meditation I bundled myself off to the bank to sort it out. On my way I caught my reflection in a window and it looked like my driver’s side front tire was a bit low.
After the bank I went to a grocery store. I decided I’d better do something so I tried to inflate it myself, but didn’t get very far. It wasn’t down much, only a few pounds, but it needed attention.
A proper check at the tire shop found a leak in the valve core. It was fixed in about five minutes and for free as I’d bought the tires there.

If I hadn’t screwed up I wouldn’t have gone back to the bank. I might not have seen the reflection anywhere else. The leak might have gone unnoticed until the tire was absolutely flat or until I was halfway somewhere.

Sometimes a problem in one area is actually a blessing if we have the perspective to realize it.

I am grateful for the original mistake at the bank because it saved me a lot of frustration down the road.

16 comments:

Hilary said...

Funny how that happens sometimes. Glad it all worked out for you. :)

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks, Hilary.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Yes, there really are moments in life where it seems like everything that happens, no matter how mundane, fits together like a jigsaw puzzle.

I'm glad it was just a minor deal on the tire. If you'd had to replace it, I guess you would've had to use that money you put into savings instead of checking by mistake! :-O

the Bag Lady said...

It really is strange sometimes how things seem to tie together.
But did you manage to switch the money into the proper account?

Crabby McSlacker said...

This sort of thing happens all the time for me. The trick is to try to remember those "blessing in disguise" times. Yet it's so hard to think of an annoyance as anything but annoying in the moment when it happens!

Thanks for the reminder.

Reb said...

Yes, I am familiar with that kind of thing happening.
Glad you got your tire fixed before it was a problem.

Leah J. Utas said...

It is like a jigsaw puzzle, Bunnygirl. And thanks.

Yes it was straightened out quickly and efficiently, Bag Lady.

Good to see you back in the comments trail, Crabby. You're right. Sometimes the blessings don't remove their disguises for quite some time.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks, Reb.

Terrie Farley Moran said...

dfLeah,

I have had so many petty annoyances turn into blessings in disguise, that now I start looking for the blessing almost immediately and then I get really annoyed if it doesn't show up.

Am I a greedy Gus or what?

Terrie

Leah J. Utas said...

dfTerrie - Sometimes those annoyances just take time to work themselves out. The puzzle pieces can be years apart.

Terrie Farley Moran said...

dfLeah,

So true! Some day I will learn to be patient. ;)

Terrie

the Bag Lady said...

dfLeah and dfTerrie - you two are a hoot!!

Dawn said...

I like your take on this, Leah.

Leah J. Utas said...

Thank you, Dawn. Perspective is everything some days.

Michael said...

Yes, as hard as it is, I try to remember that my life really isn't all bad. It's in fact pretty cool, but I don't always see it. Thanks for sharing this bit of wisdom, Leah!

Leah J. Utas said...

You're welcome, Michael. Glad to know your life's pretty cool.