By Mike Mandel
It’s freezing here in the Great White North, but I don’t mind.
Why? Because Canada is the undisputed world leader in dealing with cold weather.
Here, we’ve mastered the art of winter survival: double or triple-glazed windows, roaring fireplaces, electric heaters, snow plows, salt trucks, and an arsenal of scarves, gloves, and heavy coats. And let’s not forget the winter tires…
My wife and I both drive Subaru Foresters—arguably some of the safest, most efficient vehicles out there. When you pair Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive with Michelin X-Ice winter tires, getting stuck becomes almost impossible.
Joke:
Q. What does a Subaru driver call winter driving?
A. Driving.
We had our Subarus fitted with winter tires a couple of weeks ago. Then, as required, we went back to the dealership to have the wheels torqued. Why? Because after the initial installation, the lug nuts could loosen slightly and need tightening to ensure everything stays secure all season long.
It got me thinking about something else that works the same way: piano, harpsichord, and autoharp strings. A technician tunes them, but after a few days, the strings stretch and need to be tuned again to stay in harmony.
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Which brings me to this: the whole process is a great metaphor for life.
Think about it. We work hard to get fit, build strong relationships, eat better, reduce stress, and maintain friendships. But over time, like stretched strings or loose lug nuts, life shifts—things drift out of alignment. And if we don’t notice, small misalignments can become big problems.
The solution? Periodic correction.
I believe one of the keys to living a well-lived life is the simple act of noticing.
If you read last week’s email, you’ll remember we talked about noticing—how tuning in to subtle clues in our interactions can help avoid misunderstandings and strengthen our connections. This week, I’m building on that idea by asking you a few metaphorical questions:
- What strings in your life need to be retuned?
- What lug nuts need tightening?
- Where are you dropping the ball in ways that could lead to bigger issues down the road?
From time to time, I take stock of my life—my marriage, my friendships, my health, and my work. It’s not something I save for January 1st. By proactively identifying areas that need adjustment, I can address potential problems before they snowball.
And you can do the same.
By noticing and making small course corrections, we can keep our lives humming along smoothly. A little adjustment now could make all the difference later.
Here’s to tuning up your life before the road gets icy!
