Stuff Will Break

This Summer I've been working on the maintenance team at a local mall, and I've specifically been working with the Air Conditioning mechanic. Seeing that four weeks ago the only thing I knew about air conditioning is that they don't have it in Romania, I've learned a lot.

Baba-proof that air conditioning is not needed for survival, although it is very pleasent

One of the main things I've learned hasn't been how to fix an air conditioner, but instead a helpful life lesson. I've noticed that a majority of the people who call us when their air conditioner isn't working have an attitude something like this: "We paid for an air conditioner, so I don't understand why we don't have an ideal temperature in our store. It shouldn't be broken. I just want it to work right now." I can't really blame them either, because that's how I've always thought. I buy a car, and it should run. I shouldn't be bothered with all of the trips to the mechanic and constant upkeep.

After visiting a particularly hasty tenant about her broken air conditioner, the mechanic turned to me and said, "I just wish people would understand that nothing is perfect and things are going to break." Then I realized that this has many more implications than to wonderful devices that blow heavenly air in our direction, it also applies to ourselves, our work ethic, and relationships with others. I cannot expect a relationship with a loved one to be perfect and work just because we both agreed to give it a shot. Things will break, arguments will be had, but that doesn't mean that we can't fix them. Just because I am trying my best doesn't mean that I'm not going to make mistakes, I will break and mess up, but that doesn't mean that I can't work to fix it.

I'm sure we've all seen the meme thing going around Facebook that has a picture of an older couple and says something to the extent of, "In my day we were taught that if something is broken, we fix it." I know that there are situations where things are beyond repair, but I do think that we are worth fighting for (insert Mulan song here). We can't go through life thinking that we are entitled to things that don't break, because life is going to come back and bite you in the butt as soon as you realize that will never happen. Stuff will break, and as long as we remember that and strive to fix it, we can find happiness in any situation.