we can do hard things

We can do hard things.

We can ask for help. We can climb the mountain. We can get the job we want. We can make a new friend. We can ask the hard questions. We can figure it out.

Yesterday, I wanted to install dimmers on our living room and dining room lights - we need that mood lighting, you know!

So I did my research, I figured out what I needed and I went to the hardware store three weeks ago. And then I put off the project until yesterday. Maybe you've been there too - you know you could do it, and maybe you should if for no other reason than to get the supplies off your dining room table. That's where I was, anyway.

But finally, I geared up and went for it yesterday. With the first dimmer, I was careful. I took pictures of how it was set up. I followed directions. And then I assumed the second one would be the same. But boy, was I wrong.

So I called on reinforcements. Adam was already there. I called the manufacture's hotline - open 24/7 thank goodness.

They gave me some ideas and truly were helpful, but after 3 separate calls, 3 separate trips to buy more gadgets and hours of troubleshooting, all I had was a switch that was showing no power on my multimeter (and I learned what a multimeter does...if you ever want to borrow it, let me know). And as icing on the cake, countless outlets and lights were no longer working in other parts of the house.

I was fit to be tied. We went to bed without lights or chargers in our bedroom. I know it's just the small stuff, but I felt defeated, frustrated and convinced I couldn't do hard things. Convinced I had ruined our house, and an electrician was going to have to rip up the walls and the ceilings in order to find where it all had come undone.

But this morning (thank goodness for the new day), I started calling electricians. After 4 calls to different providers, a human finally picked up. He agreed, it did seem like something bigger was happening. And just before he connected me with scheduling, he asked, "did you say something about a bathroom?”

No, actually, I hadn’t. But now that he mentioned it, I remembered that Adam said the shower light wasn’t working this morning either. And so I went upstairs, and sure enough, the thing that turns off power if you dropped your hair dryer in the sink when the water is on (I should look up the name of that thing..) was off.

So I pushed the button to reset it, feeling a wave of relief. I now had the answer to my problem.

And soon enough, you know what, I had a working dimmer. And the outlets and the other lights that weren’t working, now they were functioning regularly.

And I was crying, so grateful for that one little question that changed everything. That one little fresh perspective that saw the bigger picture. And the quiet reminder, that yes, Liesl, you can do hard things.

And I know that light dimmers and working outlets don’t define our lives, but it’s the little questions and fresh perspectives that do. So remember, whatever we’re doing that’s outside our comfort zone, we can do hard things.

What hard things have been showing up for you in your life? Let me know below!