“When Life Hands You a Shovel: A Guide to Smiling Through the Dirt”
Ever seen that movie where a boy and his grandpa are digging forever, and finally, the boy just throws in the towel and says, “I am tired of this, Grandpa”? And Grandpa, with no sympathy and a rusty shovel, replies, “Well, that’s too damn bad,” and they keep on digging. I’m feeling like that kid right now—except instead of a shovel, I’m armed with paperwork, caffeine, and the persistent hope that my smile isn’t just a tired twitch… My colleague said it looks forced, I made it look worse because how dare he, I am trying here!
This morning, I rose at the ungodly hour of 5:30 a.m., more commonly known as “before the birds are even thinking about breakfast.” just to make it in the city on time for work. I trudged into the office and was promptly buried under a mountain of paperwork that seemed to grow taller with every breath I took. This was after a weekend of no rest, and now, my energy levels are somewhere between “flat tire” and “deflated balloon.” But hey, I’m smiling! Why? Because, in the grand scheme of things, life doesn’t end just because things aren’t exactly lining up like the dominoes in my head.
Sure, sometimes we run on empty, and the GPS seems to have lost signal. But here’s the thing—life doesn’t throw up its hands and say, “You’re out of gas, so you’re done!” No, it says, “You’re out of gas? Cool, keep going anyway.” It’s like life’s version of the “Well, that’s too damn bad” reply.
I had a heart-to-heart with my dad on Saturday. He had just come home from giving me a mini heart attack (don’t worry, he’s fine). As I was pouring his tea (because he loves tea even on a hot day), he said, “I don’t see that smile I made.” Oh, the audacity! My dad genuinely believes that all my best features—the brown eyes, the brown skin, the small nose, and the smile—are his divine gifts to me. And while I was busy playing doctor with him, he decided to gift me a lecture. Apparently, he created my smile, but he was too busy worrying about me to see it.
We had a good laugh, and then he got all sentimental on me, saying, “I’m sorry for scaring you, but if I had to choose again, I’d still pick you because I know you’d do everything for the people you love. I might have made your smile, but your heart was crafted by God Himself.” And that, my friends, is how you get a heartfelt pep talk with a side of guilt but above everything else, dont forget the gift you are just because life is a bit sour.
Sometimes, life throws you into chaos at work, school, or home, and it feels like you’re trying to juggle flaming swords while riding a unicycle on a tightrope. But guess what? Life doesn’t stop just because you’re exhausted, rejected, or just plain confused. It keeps moving—whether you’re dancing or knocked out on the floor.
So, when you find yourself buried under your own metaphorical paperwork or digging away with a shovel that seems endless, remember: you’re doing great. You’re worthy of a moment’s rest, a smile, and a pat on the back. Even if things don’t go as planned, keep going. Life will keep moving, whether you’re in the driver’s seat or just along for the ride. like my dad, surround yourself with people who see that even though life has been knocking you out, you are simply trying your best and may they be kind towards you.
Me and my dad? We had a bonding moment that was more about love and less about the technicalities of the stunt his heart pulled. Our parents want us to thrive, to make wise choices, and to build a legacy of resilience and love. So, even when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or just feeling like a hamster running on a wheel, remember this: life doesn’t stop. It doesn’t wait for you to catch your breath. It just keeps going. And sometimes, that’s the best reason to keep showing up and giving it your all.
So, keep on digging, dancing, and smiling through the dirt. After all, life’s too short to not enjoy the ride—shovel and all.
oh and I had writers block, thank God I can write again