Mousketools

(First Published on "Focus on Yourself" on 7/26/15)

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Have you ever watched it? 

If you have kids, you have. If you haven't seen it, count yourself lucky. 

All you need to know is that Mickey and his friends find themselves on a bunch of different adventures that require “tools” to complete - Mousketools, to be exact. These mousketools can range from a pair of scissors to an elephant in a bikini (I'm not kidding). 

If the characters find themselves in a pickle with a problem they don't know how to solve, they simply call out, "Oh, Toodles!" and a colorful Mickey Mouse head flies out of the trees, lake, sky, etc. to save the day. He ALWAYS has exactly what they need. They only need to choose the proper tool from the present arsenal. 

How convenient. 

To be honest, I'm a little jealous. What I wouldn't give to have access to a flying mouse-shaped head that gives me tools to complete any job. 

Out of laundry detergent?

"Oh, Toodles!"

Need new sheets on the bed?

"Oh, Toodles!"

Car broke down?

"Oh, Toodles!"

Lost baby's favorite pacifier?

"Oh, Toodles!"

You get the idea. 

Unfortunately, real life isn't equipped with such a thing (unless you count Amazon Prime, and I almost do). 

The last time my car broke down on the side of the road, I was forced to use my limited knowledge and resources to remedy the situation. Imagine my dismay when I realized that I had, in fact, NOT added roadside assistance to my insurance policy. 

"Oh, Toodles!" 

Oh, wait. I have to handle this shit myself. 

As I'm sure you can deduce, this story has a happy ending. Husband, toddler, and I are no longer stranded along the side of the road, and I'm not typing this from a dying smartphone and the depths of despair. 

I managed to contact the appropriate people who came to our rescue. The vehicle runs (most of the time), and my daughter is napping happily in her crib instead of under a tree on the side of the road.

There may not be mousketools in the real world, but we have everything we need.

When I started this post, I had planned to lament the fact that mouseketools would make life so much easier and that there are no quick fixes for our problems. 

While this is true, it’s also true that we are much more capable than we give ourselves credit for. It is amazing what we can do when our back is against the wall. When we are sure there is no other recourse, no other options for our rescue, we come through for ourselves. 

There is no need to wait around for someone else to rescue us from our problems. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, but you have to take action too. Your friends could be pushing your car out of a ditch, but if you’re not steering, you’ll just end up falling over the hill on the other side. 

You are stronger than you think. 

Challenge yourself. You may not have mouseketools, but you have everything you need to succeed. You were born with it. Trust me - it's there.

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