Photo: Socks by Peter Griffin
I’m learning lessons from some unlikely situations. But I shouldn’t be surprised really. Isn’t that generally the way of things?
It’s a few months ago now that our reassuringly rumbly old tumble drier turned into a shrieking banshee. Because of its age, it wasn’t economical to repair. I unplugged it one last time…
Worse was to come, as we weren’t able to buy an immediate replacement. Why are all the best driers taken?
What to do? It was too wet to dry anything outside. So out came the clothes drying racks. ‘Old school’ drying at its finest. The spare bedroom became a drying room. Waiting a day or two for our clothes to dry. The horror!
But despite not being ideal, we coped. The world didn’t stop turning. And it made me realize that I’d never once given a thought to the drier when it was working. I’d never taken the time to appreciate what I had. It was just a functional appliance that I took for granted.
So two lessons for me here:
I should value what I have, now matter how ordinary it appears. And when life throws a spanner in the works, I can always improvise and find a way to cope.
We’ve now welcomed a brand new drier into our garage. And what a wonderful tumble drier it is!
Walk the Self-Talk 
When I was really little, I remember we used to have a washing machine that would walk across our basement floor. Literally. One of us kids usually had to sit on it during the rinse cycle, to keep it from walking. Your story reminded me of that washer. And, if all else fails, there’s always a laundromat!
Thanks for your comment. I actually got used to using drying racks, but it’s good to have a drier again. I’m more grateful for it now!
Some days when remembering to be thankful I will find myself being thankful just like you, for things like my tire not going flat on the way to my appointment. As you pointed out we often forget how many blessings we have . Thanks for the reminder.
Great post, Steve. It reminds us we would do well to take time occasionally to appreciate all the blessings technology brings us that we mostly take for granted.
I too have went through this…We take too much for granted so when we have to go without, it is then we realize how dependent we are on these things.
Thanks for the comment, and the Follow. Much appreciated.
::chuckling:: Happened to me too, except I live in Colorado and even in the winter the air’s so dry, things dry in a day. I discovered that I’m spoiled and don’t like my clothes crispy and I’m not interested in ironing. That contrast was an opportunity to expect a small miracle and we created the money to get a new dryer quickly.
Ah, we currently have our washing drying on a horse. When i lived on my own, i lived in a flat. My husband has a dryer, and its like a miracle to me, but its expensive, so ive opted for the horse 🙂 the weather is too vile to put it out!!!
Thanks for the great reminder to count even the most mundane items amongst your blessings!
Thanks for the comment and the follow. I still appreciate reminders to feel appreciation myself!
Fun trip down memory lane! As we speak, I’m calling to mind 5 or 6 things that I’m good and happy to have right now. Thanks for putting me in that place!
This was a great reminder to me to value what I do have. Great article!