The Road to Self-Rediscovery; One Person’s Lessons in Life

Humor vs. Insanity
A comical lesson in a week of life’s challenges

Why is it that sometimes life can be so challenging that a sense of humor may be our only defense against the quickly approaching crazy trains that seems to be headed our direction?

We’ve all heard the sayings: “The God(dess)/Universe doesn’t give a person more then they can handle”, or the popular “what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger”. Exactly whose standard is our “breaking point” being measured against? Why is it that some people, like myself, seem to get tested to the ends of their limits and beyond?

As a newly divorced woman and single mother of two I took a big step and purchased my own home in March of 2007. Unfortunately, the real estate and mortgage market was quickly going “belly-up”. I started the process with an interest rate of 6.2% and by the time I sat down at the closing table the interest rate had jumped to 12%. I suddenly found myself between the proverbial rock and hard place. I had already given the house that we were living in back to my ex-husband and my daughters were in an uncomfortable living station, in there former home, during the interim and hoping for a speedy end to the home buying process. I also had a temporary living arrangement, for nearly four weeks, until the closing. All of our belongings were in a storage pod or crammed into the back of my van and my daughters and I were apart longer then we had ever been in the past. I was “trapped” and had to close on a house that I now could not comfortably afford.

Here’s my story, sit back, and laugh along with me as my lesson in humor unfolds.

Closing Day, Wednesday, approximately 7 P.M.

After signing mountains of papers, my two daughters and I began moving in to our new home. As time and the weather would have it, we only unloaded a couple of carloads. Frozen to the bone the three of us returned to our temporary homes for the evening.

Thursday, approximately 5 P.M.

After working all day the kids and I started the moving process a tad later then desired. As we opened the door to our new home it was apparent that we had a gas leak. As luck would have it, the utility company came out to the house immediately, discovered a leak behind the laundry room wall, and proceeded to lock the meter. I was told that the gas leak needed to be repaired by a certified professional before services would be restored.

Friday Afternoon, approximately 3 P.M.

“The professionals” began their work, which included tearing out my basement wall. Ugh, Great! Now approaching 4 PM, with the gas leak repaired, I promptly placed the call to the utility company. They weren’t sure when someone would be out, it could be Monday. Uugghh!!!


Saturday – Morning

Attempting to remain positive and improvising, we decided to use electric space heaters to fight off the -10° temperatures.

Saturday – Afternoon

After unpacking for a few hours, the kids and I took a break and we went to the furniture store to arrange to get our new furniture delivered. After such a long waiting period, this was a very exciting occasion for all of us. Transaction completed, the celebration would commence. As my youngest daughter and I returned to the van, I found my oldest daughter standing outside of the vehicle. Her coat & shoes and van keys were still inside the locked running vehicle.

At this point, those positive “harm none” feelings have been squashed! Actually they have been squashed, burnt, and blown away. Fast forward… after tearing through boxes in the moving pod at the new house and not finding the spare keys, I arranged to have my daughters taken to their dad’s. It seemed safer since the “harm none” intention was becoming more difficult towards my oldest daughter.

Don’t forget the van is still running in the parking lot at the furniture store, it’s been 45 minutes now. As many have experienced, moving is very financially draining. However, I finally broke down and called a lock specialist who opened my car door in less then 3 minutes. After that challenge was tackled I thanked my boyfriend for rescuing the girls and I and we made plans to get together later for pizza and a greatly needed quiet evening to relax and recharge.

Saturday – Early Evening:

I returned to the new house, by myself, to unpack a little more. Sometimes time alone to sort out thoughts and regain self-control is the best medicine.

After unpacking for a while I noticed that the sky was quickly growing dimmer and I was in need of a break. I leaned against the back door to gaze out to my beautiful back yard. Over my sloping yard, leading down to the huge oak trees and small running creek, a light deposit of snow sparkled beautifully and seemed truly peaceful. As I stood there, absorbing the tranquility of it all, I noticed an odd thing in one of my oak trees. There appeared to be a flame! The tree was on fire! There was an electrical line that was lying on the tree! Suddenly a few loud “pops” and the electricity is OUT. I stared off into the distance in astonishment and could only question the universe; “Really? Is this really happening?”

At this point, as we all know the thing NOT to do is to not envision anything else. “Don’t claim it, don’t want it!” Sighing, I thought, “oh no!” Just like a scene from “Ghostbusters” when they need to keep their minds blank in order to not choose the method of their destruction and the one of the character pictures the marshmallow man; “it just couldn’t be helped” he exclaimed. I relived that line in the movie as my destructive thought unexpectedly burst into my mind, “well all I need now is water problems”.

At the time of all these challenges (a much better word for totally *%&#@ up the problem) it is most important to remember that experiences, situations, even lessons do happen for a reason. Our attitude is the most evident expression of our feelings, thoughts and character. It can be extremely difficult to unearth the positive attitude at a time when everything seems to be working against you. Unfortunately, this is the time when we need to control our thoughts the most.

In conclusion, the lesson that I learned from this first week of being a homeowner is that “humor is priceless”! Additionally, I learned that by controlling my thoughts and admitting the existence of the negative thought or situation, understanding where or why they were sent to me, and being forgiving and at times thankful for the life lesson I was better able to dismiss them and grow as a spiritual being having a very human experience.

Wishing all of you perpetual strength & the brightest blessings.

author: Karen Tice