Growing up, one thing that really stood out about my mom, and that I strive to emulate as her oldest child, is this: If you want something done right, take matters into your own hands.
I remember a time when she replaced a toilet using nothing but a butter knife and her unwavering determination. There was also that day she decided the dining room needed a drywall makeover; without hesitation, she knocked a hole in the wall and took on the entire project herself. For years, our dining room had walls that were half-completed, but she didn’t let that stop her. She tackled it from beginning to end, all on her own.
I still chuckle thinking about the moment she single-handedly heaved a hot water heater from the basement to the curb, simply because it needed doing and no one else was available to help.
It’s not that she never asks for assistance—she absolutely does. When we visit, my partner is always welcomed with a warm hug and a list of furniture projects she hopes he can help with, “No rush, dear, just before you head out.” My siblings and I often hear her voice echoing through the house, strained and demanding, calling us to assist her with rolling up a massive carpet she couldn’t manage alone. If we ever needed a family motto, it would surely be: “Get over here and lend a hand!”
Perhaps my mom’s drive to jump into action comes from a sense of impatience, a refusal to let things linger for another day. Or maybe it’s her fierce independence that has seen her through various challenges, whether she was facing them alone or with support. Then again, she might just have a knack for diving headfirst into projects without fully considering the tools or help that a typical person would require.
Regardless of what fuels her willingness to tackle tasks like replacing toilets with a butter knife, tearing down walls, or diving into projects without the usual prerequisites, the lesson I’ve taken away is clear: It doesn’t matter what lies ahead of me. It doesn’t matter who is there to assist. It doesn’t matter how intimidating or time-consuming the task may seem.
If I put my mind to it, I can achieve anything on my own.
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