Sure, sure. We all know the saying. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And most of the time, it makes sense. Why mess with a good thing, right?
In fact, I’m a proponent of the “if it aint’ broke” crowd in many circumstances, especially in relationships. For example, I won’t be pushed to a timetable for “next logical steps” when others think it’s required.
Then again, when something is broken, that’s another matter.
Breaking Down
Two days ago my car broke down. I managed to get it to a nearby garage where it sat, and I sat, and then I was driven home.
What followed was a long series of phone calls, messages, automated customer service menus, and eventually my car was towed from the auto repair shop in one part of town to the dealership, some distance away. There, it appears to be awaiting exploratory surgery (still), and I suspect, more days for me to wait.
Meanwhile, without wheels, my planned week has been scrambled. I hope I’ll have a loaner by this afternoon. As for the cost, please pass the Pepto… until I see the bill. Then we’ll see if I need something stronger.
Breaking down? Especially when you haven’t the resources to fill in for what’s just gone missing? It can be hard. It can be worse than hard. It can be devastating.
Breaking Out
But the break down also encouraged me to be resourceful. To reorganize my time. To rethink the rigor required in order to pursue daily exercise, to regain strength to walk miles to get things done – on foot.
Just in case.
After all, you never know when one part of your life might break down – physically or logistically – requiring you to call upon another area of your life or your personal qualities that stand you in good stead: ingenuity, stamina, your legs.
Routine
Routine is helpful. It gets us through impossible schedules, frazzled days and nights, and the stresses of contemporary life that would be untenable otherwise. Routine provides stability, and structure for discipline that might waver without it.
I like routine. I need routine. But the same old-same old can also lead to complacency, to stagnation, to going nowhere that equates to falling behind. So there are times that I break my routines intentionally – in order to break away from the usual, and see what unfolds.
Parenting Break?
As new parents, we crave routine. Remember those first weeks and months of sleepless nights and endless worries?
Everything is new; we can’t wait until we’ve figured it out, weathered a few years, adapting to each stage and grateful for periods of sameness. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” works wonders during these years.
Yet even when things are humming along, we may believe in change. In trying something different. We may choose to break the rhythm, deliberately.
Breaking News
When my younger son was in elementary school and then middle school, he was doing well. Nothing was broken, but I sensed that he could do better. So I decided to push him, and to do it differently.
I changed the way I praised him for good performance, and instead, I challenged him to achieve outstanding performance. Oh, it wasn’t breaking news, but by nudging in this way – a different way – I succeeded in motivating him to succeed, and I saw him take greater pleasure in learning more and doing well.
Creative Change
Change is disorienting, whether you initiate it to shake things up, or it floods into your life against your will, as you’re left floundering, and ultimately – adapting. We fix things when they break, but sometimes, we break things in order to refashion them. To create change.
Do I tweak my habits at times, for no other reason than change – in and of itself? You bet. I tweak my writing, I tweak my environment, I tweak my look, I tweak my Daily Plate of Crazy.
I ask myself: Is any of this broken? I don’t think so. Will I break it all the same, just a little?
Possibly, and I hope in a good way. Because I like creative change that will allow me to break out, break loose, experiment, and take a risk. Without risk, there’s no reward. Without experimentation, we don’t encourage learning.
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Really, really enjoyed this post. Feel like it spoke directly to me, and where I am now in my life. I’ve always been an achiever, moving from one goal (no matter how small) to another, my life an unending series of nexts. As you say, children changed all that and I’ve been floundering in so very many ways since my first was born. I know children change our life, but I really DIDN’T have an clue how much. Only now am I coming to terms with the fact that the here and now and all that is about simply managing life is good enough. It’s been long months to get here. Do I think it will satisfy me to think this way for the long run. I’m not sure. I hope so, because I like this new way of thinking. But knowing how I am, I won’t be satisfied for long because I am so the person who’s always trying to fix things!
Wolfie, this post really sings to me. As with your son, the difference between good performance and outstanding performance seems to be the key here. Just because something isn’t broken, doesn’t mean it is as good as it could be. Sure, there are times we accept good enough. But there are also times we should strive for great. And what fun is life if we just get by on good enough??
I’m with you, especially this part: “I like routine. I need routine. But it can also lead to complacency, to stagnation. So there are times that I break it – intentionally – in order to break away from the usual, and see what unfolds.” Just because it ain’t broke doesn’t mean it ain’t need fixing.
I walked away from a perfectly sound marriage just because like you said about your son, it was good. It just wasn’t extraordinary. I’m a passionate person who found that part of me floundering and needed to know if that was it for us. So I broke that routine, walked away from my life then and as you said, without risk, there’s no reward. My life today is proof of that.
Wow, you’re just so quotable today! 🙂
Quotable! Justine, you make me smile. Sometimes “good” is good enough. But not always. Not to some of us. Not in things that we value above all else.
I love this kind of thinking, to break something in a good way. I get restless when everything works for an extended period of time. I found I’m much better at introducing change into my days rather than have it spring up on me without notice. While I do love my routines and need a good dose of security, I love trying new things and breaking the rules (well, without doing anything illegal).
Yes! Restless. Exactly.
Sigh….Right now I’m a little sick of broken things. Cars, kitties, parents, …okay enough already! But you’re right, opportunity, mix it up. I shall try.
I do know what you mean, Maureen. . . it seems endless, sometimes.
Sorry about the car. Happy it led to perspectives of change. Look forward to the transitions.
Have Fun,
Jim
BLW, the broken car reminds me also of when I became a parent. Suddenly any plans I made could be changed in an instant – by a sick kid, by a crying baby, by a babysitter problem, etc. I could make appointments at work and not be able to attend them. I could plan on exercise and not be able to go even if I was rearing to go. Parenting is excellent training to teach us we really have no control over our lives.