Losing Confidence
I’ve almost always felt that I was, if not the sharpest, then at least one of the pointiest tacks in the box of life. As has been happening with my faulty misconception of being well read, however, I have discovered that as tacks go I might be fairly dull. Here’s a short tale of discovery to illustrate my point.
The recent rains made my grass grow. I mowed with my riding mower. Edging however involves a hefty line trimmer. I am no longer a young man and my right arm hurts from an injury, so I decided now was the time to buy a strap. Store A had no strap. Store B had a strap, but I didn’t know if it would attach to my trimmer. I went home to check. There was, indeed, a connection point. Long unnoticed by me. That was dull clue A. Dull clue B, however, was hanging on the wall next to it, a polesaw of the same orange brand. With. A. Strap. And yes, the two connection points were identical.
There are three kickers to this. First, how did I not notice in nearly 13 years of service I could hook a support strap to my line trimmer. Secondly, how did I not notice the polesaw strap would work on my line trimmer. And finally, why didn’t I check my trimmer to see what sort of connection point it might have before I went shopping? That’s a lot of dullness, of missing the obvious, of looking for a forest while standing in the trees. I am not unhappy with who I am, generally speaking, but coming to terms with the truth of my true abilities is shaking my confidence daily.