My Trolling Motor

I believe that oftentimes laughter is the only thing that keeps me going. Sometimes I think of it like a little trolling motor on the crazy ass pontoon boat that is my life.

Once, while out on the lake my grandparents lived on, the motor stopped working on their party barge. We were close enough to see the cove that they lived in but it took us about 45 minutes to get there using the trolling motor. We sat back and watched as the house grew closer little by little, safe in the knowledge that that tiny motor would get us there eventually. Laughter is my trolling motor.

A couple weeks ago the company I work for had a big charity event and I volunteered to run errands with a coworker for it. It was supposed to be a quick trip but it turned in to the Gilligan’s Island of shopping trips. One hour max became four hours, five stores, and too many phone calls back to the office to count. The Mom Van was completely stacked with everything from plexiglass to feathers and cases of bottled water. We had so many items in our carts at Walmart that the cashier called in back up so we wouldn’t have to unload everything and bag it. At one point we were both threatening mutiny if we ever got sent out on a trip like this again.

By the end of the event that night I was so exhausted that my legs were shaking. That’s when my boss called for an “all staff dance party.” Talk about being able to read your team. It was exactly what we needed. It gave us something to laugh and smile about. The struggles and frustrations that led up to it seemed silly and small. With every bad dance move and laugh we trolled closer and closer to smoother waters.

I try my best to find at least one thing to laugh about every day. Sometimes it’s as simple as watching one of The Twins make a horrible face when she tries new food. Other days it’s more elaborate and I get to have one of those big giant belly laughs that keeps me giggling for a few hours. I’m always thankful that my life is filled with laughter. I’m that my little trolling motor hasn’t run out of steam, especially on the days when the calm waters seem infinitely far away.