Plumbers & Fishing Boats

I have always promised to be 100% transparent with you.

So here it goes…

I really, really believed I could do it all by myself. No doubt, I appreciate help from all the people, but have this nasty habit of defaulting to an “I’ll just do it myself” attitude when things don’t go as planned. And if I’m being 100% honest … I don’t always release my death grip on control. Somedays, my old habits rear their head like Medusa and I am white-knuckling through “the process”.

Can I get a head nod from all my fellow passionately detail-oriented peeps?

So, about all that. It doesn’t work.

It is time to LET IT BE.

Have you ever seen the Sesame Street version of the Beatles’ Let It Be? It was one of my favorite shorts as a kid. These little bee-bopping muppets were the stars of the show that played in my mind MULTIPLE times this last week. Let me set the scene for ya.

Nine weeks ago we closed on the property that will be the new physical location for all things Nature Play All Day. In-person programming for children, teacher training, parent education, and community outreach - retreats- all the things.

In true Ade form, I hit the ground running, scheduling contractors several weeks out to meet a “ridiculous” timeline. Y’all- I was making it happen come hell or high water. Our program was going to be licensed before Winter.

Much to my delight, things were going fabulously. Smooth. Quick. Timely. You know, ON SCHEDULE.

And then, our plumber went missing. It was as if he had vanished out of thin air. Here one minute and gone the next.

Because Maine is so small, I quickly learned he had traveled to Alaska for a Moose hunt. A total once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and frankly kind of badass. I couldn’t even be mad! But I was frustrated.

The days went on… no word.

I picked up the phone and I called 4 plumbers.

1 called back. Great! Look at me- getting it done despite my circumstances!

That dude stiffed me twice never showing up to begin the work.

I practiced grounding myself in gratitude for the space this was providing me to do other work… but I’ll be honest- it was not helping. I was annoyed.

Without a plumber, the entire project was at a standstill.

I had a timeline! I was organized! How could this be happening!?

As I ranted on about this ordeal to my partner, I paused.

It was at that very moment that I realized I was grossly trying to control something that was beyond me.

What was the worst thing that could happen here? Do we wait another week, and then hopefully our (bad-ass) plumber would return, ready to get to work?

When I put it that way it didn’t feel or sound that bad.

TWO weeks later, the phone rang while we were out on the ocean fishing with friends.

It was 8 a.m. on a SUNDAY.

It was the badass plumber. He had gotten home late the night before and was ready to begin work on Monday. The work took him one day. One freakin day. He was on time. He was efficient. He asked a million, thoughtful questions. He brought his dog to the site. He was on top of his game and kept his word. It was literally ALL good.

Okay, Ade- what’s the connection …

I had spent over two weeks trying to wrangle a solution that simply was not meant to be.

There was a plan, but there was also an inevitable delay. The delay hand-delivered me a major lesson. I needed to just LET IT BE. I needed to sit in the in-between and be patient. (Still working on bringing more of that to my life outside the classroom, every dang day.)

I share this with you today because these lessons are so valuable not only in our day-to-day living but also in our work with children.

Letting things BE is where we witness the magic. When we let things BE just as they are and roll with it, we get a front-row seat to witness the exponential growth that children are going through every day.

When I was forced to just LET IT BE, I witnessed good people, doing good work, for a cause they believe in. What a beautiful thing.

When we trust the timing, we open gorgeous windows of opportunity to see things from a fresh perspective. What a gift!

I fully admit that it is HARD to relinquish this need for control. I was reminded these last few weeks just how monumental the reward is when we lean into the in-between, trust in the timing of things, and douse ourselves in gratitude for the extra space that has been given.

Remember, the road may feel long, but you are never, ever alone. I got you.

Thanks for being here with me on this wild ride.

XO,
Ade

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