I recently had several opportunities to fix a few things around the house. Most recently, it was the flag on the mailbox. These things were small and required me to figure out how to fix them absent specific parts. As it happened, I had some chopsticks, which were part of a Chinese food delivery, available. Because I needed just a bit of something to wedge into a slot in the bracket, I used a single chopstick, cut to size, to solve the job. Something similar happened a few weeks earlier and a larger chopstick got the job done. One of the other tasks involved glue and getting the glue to just the right spot. You guessed it – another chopstick was deployed. I laughed thinking about how the lowly stick called a chopstick had helped me in a variety of ways. I have a small supply of them on hand for just such occasions. And, yes, I’m a bit of a hoarder (it is in my DNA). But, this post is not about the benefits of chopsticks, it is about finding solutions. Long ago, in a post referenced here, (https://magnusinsights.com/2013/11/improvise-adapt-and-overcome/) Melissa and I wrote about adapting to find solutions. Some things are straightforward. Use a spare part, or buy a new one. But, often fixing things, or fixing situations, requires a little creativity, an adaptation, to get the job done. Ask, what would McGyver do? It may not involve a Swiss Army knife, but a little creativity can go a long way
David saves almost everything, “just in case” he might need it in the future. I will give credit to David for his creative use of chopsticks, among other things he has used for non intended purposes. I have little use for chopsticks. I do not eat with them. In fact, I have embarrassed David in Asian restaurants all over the world by asking for a fork with which to eat my meal. The only thing I can think of to do with chopsticks is to use them as drum sticks. When I see the fancy lacquered chopsticks at some upscale Asian restaurants, I often pick them up and play a few bars of the “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” drum solo, adding to David’s embarrassment over my misuse of these fine eating utensils. David is skilled at eating with chopsticks and evidently, his chopsticks skills go well beyond culinary uses. David’s dad told me long ago that David is prepared for just about everything. This statement has been proven true in many environments, including while traveling, when outfitting our boat with supplies, in our cars, and at home. David follows the motto, “Be prepared” when it comes to just about everything, including his creative use of chopsticks to repair household items.
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