Good morning, Leaders! It’s Friday!

Walking through the TSA line on my way to a leadership team meeting I was facilitating, I notice the thread close to my…zipper…is unraveling. It looks like my fly is open even though it is not. Worse than that, I can’t just tug on the zipper to remedy the embarrassing moment. Huh.

I was fortunate to have a mending kit with and the time to “sew” that morning. I can’t operate a needle and thread (actual triage picture above). This is a prime example of function over form. The job ahead is to hold pants together for 12-14 hours. Doesn’t have to look pretty on the inside.

Busting at the seams doesn’t exactly scream “this is what success looks like” or “follow me”. It looks like you scrimped on the wardrobe budget or you’ve held on to something past it’s useful life. Neither was the case this time. Just a loose thread gone rogue.

What lessons did I take away from this:

• Be prepared. The sewing kit was old and I burned through two colors trying to secure the flap. But I had one, it worked and I’m glad I remembered it was there.

• Don’t get rattled. Hard to believe after seeing the stitches that I wasn’t bothered sitting on the toilet seat playing make-shift tailor. I had other options…dress pants or jeans in my carry on bag. Fixing this was about exercising self control.

• Stay focused on the prize. There will be obstacles on your daily journey. Rise above the moments and display tolerance. We’ve all heard the phrase “don’t sweat the small stuff…and it’s all small stuff” but do we reflect on how quickly we take the bait, get frazzled, frustrated and even fly off the handle?
OK, maybe that’s just me.

Smile at adversity. Welcome the challenges that get tossed your direction. Consider them God promptings. He wants you to be entirely dependent on him and we all require regular reminders.

Have a blessed weekend!