Pieces of a Puzzle

I had a great realization yesterday as I continued to work towards by goal of getting on with my life. I have a lot that needs to be done (I need another source of income, I need to help Andrew get his college situation squared away, I need to get my house in order in case I need to sell it.) And each of these things that need to be done includes many steps, parts of the process, which need to be accomplished in order for me to succeed. And, I must remember, I am only one person who can only do so much.

So I have turned to my friends and my family. And they are each, individually one person who can only do so much. As individuals, they do not have all the answers as I do not have all the answers. I can't expect to ask for help and just have one step up and fix everything for me, just as I can't fix everything myself.

In the past, that would have been my chosen method or procedure. I would struggle away on my own, not seeking help because I didn't want to impose on others. And the way I used to operate would have been an imposition, because I would have just asked one or maybe two people to help.

So, as I said, no one person has the answers. But each person has some answers, or one answer, or even a portion of one answer. So, yesterday I said to myself ah ha! So this is how it works! I have a network of friends that extends out, and they have friends that extend out, and so on. And this friend may not be able to give me the money I need, but he/she can offer me advice on avenues to earn income. And that advice may lead me to potential options to put my skills to work while taking care of my issues.

I came to this realization when I thought of what I need to do to get this house in, potentially, marketable condition. True, even in this housing market, with a quick turnaround (and a low price) I could sell it now and still get a little back. But if I could just spruce up a few rooms with paint (as Tom had planned to do these past five years), I could get back enough to help Andrew with college and have some left to pay off bills and keep some for a potential future down payment. I looked at the bathroom – the first room we had planned to paint, because it was a small project. First the whole room needs to be cleaned (scrubbed clean, not just everyday clean). Okay, I could do that. Then the wall paper needs to be taken off. Okay, maybe I can learn to do that. Then there's the ceiling that's stained with mold. And the cabinet that needs to be taken off because it is broken and stained. And the bathroom fixtures that are rusted. And then, finally, there's the painting.

So, okay, I can't do this all myself. But I know I have one friend who can help me with advice on the wallpaper. And another with power tools who can help with the cabinets, and maybe even the fixtures. And someone who is good with colors and painting. And bit by bit, this room can get done. Not all at once, by one person, but by a team. Or a village, as Hillary Clinton would say. And no one person would be overwhelmed, including me.

One step at a time – one piece of a puzzle that connects with the next.