Three Leg Stool

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost

A question came up recently in which I was asked why a milking chair has only three legs. The milking chair of course being a short chair used to hand milk dairy cows. The person making the inquiry knew I had grown up on a farm and wondered why there were not four legs. The thought was that four legs were stronger than three.

The answer to this question is very similar to what I have enjoyed the past eighteen years at my place of employment. For many years, there have been two men that together with myself formed a three-legged stool. Our job was to go in when all else was hopeless and recover a customer. Some would call us a "flying team" because our engagements were typically last minute, get on a plane situations.

We always called those our "Friday crud sandwiches" because most escalations were handed over to us late in the week. This made scheduling family events or other activities a roll of the dice. You just never knew what was coming and when. But it was thrilling and we enjoyed most every one of them.

As a team we solved quite a few cases in places all over the world. When you left, you never quite knew if you would be gone a couple of days or a couple of weeks. Most times it was only one of us on location, but the other two were always available to support the one. A three-legged response that took the job seriously and worked quite well.

And now with the retirement of one and the changing job roles of the other two, the three-legged stool is about to be hung up in the barn. It will hang there for many years, unused and collecting dust and cobwebs. Then one day, someone will come along and ask the question, why were there only three legs on this stool?

The answer is because a three-legged stool works much better on a crooked floor. When the situation is found to be uneven, three legs will provide a more sturdy base. It will not rock back and forth like a four-legged stool. You will be more sure of your placement and accomplish the task given.

So yes, we were a three-legged stool always placed into uneven situations. We provided the stability until things could be smoothed out once again. I will miss working as part of that stool but as Robert Frost says, "...life": it goes on."

Stay inspired my friends.

Life Will Change

A recent quote from actor Tim Allen said, "change is all we really have so why do I let it get to me? Because something in me wants stability, but it is never stable, is it?" All of us look for consistency in our lives. We like the idea of things getting to a likable level and want it to just remain there.

Think of it as driving down the freeway in your car, a vacation trip long overdue. You have set the cruise control at 75 miles per hour, the sky is blue and spring has blossomed with flowers and the green of a new summer all around you. The love of your life is riding with you, maybe the kids or friends are there. Even your music is just right, things are all well. Your biggest wish is that the entire trip continues in this manner.

But then traffic begins to build, the cruise control no longer is an option. Road construction ahead and someone needs to use the rest room as well. What about something to eat, we're all getting hungry and tired. Things change, life changes things, it just happens...that is life.

How we deal with change is the determining factor in how we succeed or fail. By understanding that change will occur on a very unexpected schedule, you will be able to adapt and move on. Not all change is bad remember, but it shakes things up and makes you adjust your life. You can fight change, try to hold things the same. Doing so can be like building sand castles in the surf of a beach. A losing battle that frustrates and fails to accomplish your fight to keep life the same.

Some of the change is predictable or at least foreseeable. Good friends of ours have great change in front of them for their son. The son will have to live the major change and adapt to living in a completely different way. Their story could be any kind, you could plug most any story line into it and the simple fact of change remains. Their lives will have pain and sorrow but then attitude will take hold.

They will have to be strong and positive for the son, for themselves. It will be necessary to find the good things and the long term possibilities that this change brings upon them. Fighting against the tide will only weaken them and not give that support the son will greatly need. With family and friends in support, our friends will change themselves through this experience. They will let go of past hurts that prevented them from taking the positive approach to life and change.

Movement is occurring for them at this time, movement is occurring for you as well. Change will happen as sure as the sun will rise in the morning. Embrace change and find stability for yourself within it.