The tell tale buzzing started again, for the third time that day. It’s not like a smoke detector or air raid siren, but it’s enough to get your attention from anywhere in the house. And it sent shivers down my spine the first time I realized what it was.
That buzzing is caused by the high water alarm on my septic system. 27 year old Chris Bowler would be visibly upset at this sound. It would cause him to stress a bit, to be a little short with kids. He’d think thoughts like, “Why did I buy a house in the country? I don’t know how to deal with septic tanks and wells!” He’d have a hard time enjoying anything else while this emergency loomed.
At 37, I’m thankful for age, most days. I can recognize past situations where I’ve faced these kinds of things and gotten through them just fine. Most importantly, I’ve learned the very important concept that the unknown becomes known … and does so fairly quickly. There’s nothing like tackling the unknown in the past to help you deal with the unknown in the now.
Recognizing this fact helps me in all areas of life. I can confidently take on projects that are beyond my ability because I know I will learn what I need on the way. Being a father is another good example … I was totally lost the first time around, but the kid has turned out very nicely.
Having never done something in the past does not gaurantee future failure. Sometimes, you just get out your tool kit, open things up, and take a look around. Amidst the muck and the poop, you learn a few tricks and fix the problem.
Turns out the crisis isn’t always much of a crisis at all.
