The Poppi Chronicles

As I put you to bed recently, you asked me to give you a minute before you crawled into the cardboard spaceship we’ve temporarily setup in your room.  Intrigued by your request, I stepped back and watched to see what you needed “a minute” for.

You didn’t make me wonder – you narrated your actions for me while you neatly laid things out in your room in an extremely organized fashion.  As I was opening my lips to question why this was happening, you began answering the question before I asked it:

You see, Dad, if I put this here, it will make it faster in the morning for when I get dressed.  I won’t have to walk back and forth from the dresser.  Then if I put this here, I can go straight to brushing my teeth in one line.  Then I can come right back here and put my socks on all in one trip.  Then I’ll put this here and it’s the fastest way to get it all done.  I figured out that if I set it all up the night before, I can get everything done quicker in the morning.

I responded with a simple, “Very good” or something of that nature and went about the process of tucking you into your cardboard spaceship.  I’m sure you thought nothing of the exchange and went on to dreaming of exploring the stars.

I, on the other hand, left the room feeling like I had just looked into a mirror.  My six year old son had just shown one of my key traits: a desire for efficiency.

This is not a bad trait.  In fact, I’ve earned a substantial portion of my lifetime income from having this trait.  We see processes and constantly want to improve them.  We want things done in the most optimal way.  It makes sense.

I have learned two things, though, about this trait that I’d like to share:

1. A desire for efficiency can be a tell-tale sign of laziness.  Not always, but it can be.  Don’t be lazy.  I’ve been lazy.  Don’t be lazy.  Just because you make something more efficient doesn’t mean you get a free pass to skate on by afterwards.  If you find yourself not working hard because you made something easy, work on making something else easier.  If you can’t find something to make easier, make something easier for someone else.  Making someone elses life easier is truly one of the most fulfilling feelings you can ever feel.
2. Not everyone will share your desire for making things efficient and making things optimal.  Just because it makes sense to you doesn’t mean it will make sense to others or that they will agree.  People will disagree with you, sometimes vehemently.  If you bring your ideas to the wrong people or in the wrong way, expect them to be met with disapproval or disagreement.  You will not always get your way.  You will have to watch processes run inefficiently and sub-optimally while knowing they could run better.  It will pain you to see at first, but you will grow to accept it.  Sometimes your relationships with others will be more important than getting your ideas accepted.  This is one of the hardest lessons I’ve ever had to accept.  I continue to work on this well into adulthood.  I can only hope you learn this quicker than I.