Anne Lamott says in Traveling Mercies, I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools-friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty-and said, Do the best you can with these, they will have to do. And mostly, against all odds, they're enough.
In her book "Sparkly Green Earrings," Melanie Shankle reflects on the transition from childhood to adulthood and the disillusionment that often accompanies it. As a child, she envisioned adults equipped with perfect tools that made life easier. However, as she grew older, she realized that the tools life provides are not always pristine but rather imperfect and worn. These include deep aspects of human experience like friendship and honesty, which guide us through challenges.
Shankle's narrative resonates with a quote from Anne Lamott in "Traveling Mercies," where she emphasizes the value of life's imperfect tools. Instead of relying on polished and ideal solutions, Lamott suggests that the rusty tools of our experiences—like discernment and patience—are what we must work with. Ultimately, both authors convey that although these tools may seem inadequate at times, they are often sufficient to navigate life's complexities and adversities.
