We eat a lot of potatoes in my home.  For the sake of sanity, I usually don’t peel them.  I usually buy organic potatoes, and we eat the skin along with the rest of it.  But when the budget is tight, conventional potatoes are the way we go, so off comes the skin…and on comes the showdown.

The battle between the potato and me.

The battle between a yummy meal and utter frustration to reach that end.

The battle between self-pity or humor at the 10th time the peeler ends up in the trash.

The victor varies each time the battle ensues, although I’m still hoping one day for a complete knockout!!

But until then, I suspect for those with a hand affected, I don’t have to say much for you to be nodding your head in agreement. Just another reminder of being different.  Another reminder that I live each day with Poland Syndrome.  Another reminder that certain tasks are a wee bit harder for me than for most.

Somedays I can find humor in it.  After the peeler has fallen from my hand for the umpteenth time, and landed in the garbage pail into which I was peeling the potato or the carrot, I have a choice between great annoyance, even anger, and shaking it off.

I tell my kids all the time, “Shake it off.”

When they are playing and fall, “Up you go, shake it off.”

When they are playing a game and fail in some way, “That’s okay, shake it off and try again.”

When they continue to have trouble with a certain math concept, “That’s okay buddy, give it another go.”
That all sounds good and well, but do I follow my own advice when I run into challenges?

What about you?