THE TIRE IS STILL FLAT

Back in the day when I was a successful sales person, complete with the fancy suits and shiny sports car, I spent many hours behind the wheel of my car traveling all over New England selling commercial printing and packaging. I had quite the impressive customer list: Bose, Gillette, Candlewick Press, Houghton-Mifflin, Cisco Systems, to name a few.

One day I was running late and of course, I hit horrible traffic. Being the professional that I was, I called the customer to tell them that I was running late because of the traffic and I'd be there as soon as I could. No sooner did I get off of the phone with the client - bang! A flat tire. What a drag.

I limped off to the shoulder of the road, got out of my car, walked around to the passenger side to see that my front, left tire was completely flat. Sure, I had a spare, but I was also in a suit and had to look good for my appointment. Did I quietly go back into the car? Did calmly call triple-A to have someone come and change my tire? Did I calmly call the client to give them another update on my late and soon to be later arrival? No. Not at all. Stood by the side of the road kicking and screaming at the tire as if it had stabbed me in the back or kicked me in a naughty place. Between kicking and screaming I looked up to the sky and even cursed God out for having such a thing happen to me.

Then suddenly, I caught myself. Or should I say the "audience" caught me. Suddenly I looked at the passers by and noticed them; some laughing at me, some staring as if I was some type of crazy person. They had every right. I was a crazy person at that time.

Ashamed of myself, I got back in the car. Made the necessary phone calls and waiting for triple-A to come and change my tire. While I waiting I came to a realization. That being - no matter what happens, our reaction very rarely changes the reality of the moment. More directly, no matter how much of a tantrum I took upon my defenseless flat tire, the tire was still flat.

So what in your life is challenging? What is it in your life that you have to learn to accept - even for a moment? It is true, it's not what happens to us that matters, it's how we react to what happens that truly matters.

I kind of like this story and use it often with folks I've told. Meaning, when someone has an outburst about something I'll say, "the tire is still flat". Sometimes I have to duck because they might want to through something at me, but really, what does screaming and kicking really accomplish? It doesn't make a child get better grades. It doesn't make a spouse remember a forgotten anniversary. And it certainly doesn't change a flat tire.

Feel free to share and use this one. Use it often. Most importantly, use it for yourself. Use it to be a good example to your children, your spouse, your co-workers, etc.

May you never have a flat tire, but if you do, may you use the right tools to keep your blood pressure in check and reality in focus.

Peace!