Not only my phone, but now my toilet is smarter than I am?

 I am humbled yet again. It happens a lot these days as I continue my path of elderhood. Wisdom seems to mean realizing just how much we don’t know… a list that seems to grow every day.

I have accepted that my cell phone knows more than I do. I can still use it and we have a decent working relationship. I am ok with that.

Recently, my old toilet began to make new noises, leaky noises, phantom flushing is what AI told me that it was called. It was an old toilet, so it was best to replace it. And why not treat myself to a new fancy one with a bidet, which I have wanted for some time. 

So, with the help of a plumber, I ordered a new toilet. It lights up when you enter the room, heats the seat, and has a remote that is more complicated than I could have imagined. 

The plumbers who came to install it were very clear to let me know that they knew how to install it but had no idea how to work it. So, there the three of us stood, in front of this contraption with no idea as to how to flush it (which they needed to do so that they knew that it was working properly). I asked if they had an instruction manual that they would leave with me, which they did. It’s not quite the reading material that I enjoy, but it is a necessity. 

Later, I carefully opened the manual and begin to skim through it. Thank goodness that I have another bathroom as I learn this new contraption. I have named him, which I do with everything. And given the intimate relationship that we will have, he definitely needed a name. 

Are you ready? His name is Pierre (Pee-Air) La Tush. We have to laugh when and where we can, yes? So many funny descriptions come to mind….cushy tushy will do for now. 

Lessons from Pierre (so far):

I have the courage to try new things and realize that I know nothing, but can learn.

I need not shame myself for taking time to learn new things. We each have our own victories of courage, even in the most unlikely places. We can honor ourselves for challenges faced!

We can give ourselves all the time that we need to learn new things. We can remember to see the humor in things and laugh along the way.

So, back I went to the instruction manual and the complex remote. Apparently, there are sequences to follow with each function to get the task done. I guess that is true of life, yes? (Writers can find the metaphors in everything, I think.) 

Life offers continual lessons and we can learn to face things, to make mistakes, to see the fun and the funny in each moment, to see the grace and wonder in it all, to be grateful for the awkwardness. As a friend of mine says, “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing awkwardly”. We can honor our own individual battles and not let others’ opinions dampen our feelings of success and courage. We can allow our humanity, allow ourselves to be beginners repeatedly, and offer ourselves kindness and patience along the way.

How many battles do each of us face each day? How many challenges do we stare down, even if they may seem silly to others? We can be grateful for our own brand of courage. We can smile and laugh at the silliness of it all, the humor in every day, the sound of the Universe sometimes being a soft chuckle. 

So, Pierre and I are still getting to know each other. It’s such a treat to be greeted as I enter the bathroom, now that I have stopped jumping to this new sound and light that greets me when I get close to him.

Enjoy your battles, your lessons, your funny moments. Treat yourself and give yourself all the time that you need to learn how to use things. It’s ok. You are ok. 

Laugh…a lot.

It’s all good….and it all works out in the end. (I just couldn’t resist!)