As we continue our month-long journey of self-acceptance and humanity, I have a funny story to share with you. You can decide what this month’s sharing is related to – limitations? Humility? Skills? Patience? I think, it’s a bit of all of this.

A few years ago, I decided I wanted to learn how to back up our truck with our trailer or boat attached. In case you don’t know this about our family, our son participates in rodeos (link to previous rodeo story newsletter please), so we have a living quarter trailer that we haul around during rodeos. One afternoon, I asked my husband to teach me how to back up our truck with a trailer attached. Something simple. If you haul things, you know this can vary greatly! So, he decided to show me how to back up the trailer for our boat. I know, roll your eyes, first world problem. But, if you know me, you know I don’t like to be the helpless woman, dependent on my husband to do something for me, if I can do it myself. Sigh…another journey of self-acceptance.

So, I’m backing up the trailer. I overcorrect. I pull forward to try again. Steer to hard. Pull forward again. Back up, use mirrors, and watch with frustration as the trailer goes the opposite direction I want it to…UG! My husband stands by with patience (and a bit of smugness) as I try again and again. He gives me pointers as I have the window down. Back and forth I go – pulling the truck forward, lining things up, aiming straight, only to see the trailer misalign with the direction I want to go as I back up again. What is this, magic? Some skill, only taught during formative years that my brain can no longer grasp?

And, as I look to my husband again for pointers, he says… “It’s just a bit of finesse. You’re overcorrecting.” FINESSE???? I scream out the window. FINESSE???? I’m pretty sure at this moment, if he stands behind the trailer I can easily hit him. Even though I’ve missed my mark 27 other times. I can definitely get it right this time. (No, I don’t support homicide, obviously, but if you need a good laugh about the longevity of marriage, check this out or this or this). Instead of doing so, I put the truck in park, turned it off, and got out. I walked over to my husband and handed him the keys.

“You’re the truck backer-upper.”

And that’s it. I don’t need to get better at backing up trucks with trailers. If, in my whole life, my husband always does this, our marriage will be better because of it. And you know what, he will never be as good as me at planning special events. I’m brilliant at it and would love to be a wedding planner in another life. But backing up trucks, no thank you.

And, please do not send me videos or advice on backing up trucks…please.

How about you? What have you thrown in the towel over? Embrace your full humanity and share with me. And if you have friend that needs this dose of love, please share!