Life is a Salvage Operation

Life can be a salvage job. We spend so much of our time trying to fix the mistakes of ourselves and others, that there is often nothing else to call it. The funny part of it is that most of the seeds of success are germinated during these salvage operations.
A large part of any employment is salvage. Shipments are late and the situation must be handled. Coworkers argue and the situation must be remedied. Customers are dissatisfied and must be soothed. Machines break down and must be fixed. The competition develops a better product and must be outdone.
Family life has its own salvage situations. Junior challenges the wrong authority and must be bailed out. The neighbor has decided that you are not worthy of their acquaintance, which may or may not be a problem. Your wife unknowingly tells an acquaintance of your boss’ wife what you said after a bad day with him.
Socially, there is always someone around who is willing to create a salvage job for you. People who decide that they know what you “really mean” and broadcast their opinion far and wide are always good for revealing who among your acquaintances is interested in the truth and who just likes the sound of someone else getting cut up. Part of this salvage job is the development of a “stiff upper lip” or a “strong chin.”
The things that are learned from salvage are often the basis of knowing how to do things right. The righting of wrong can breed gratitude and good will. Facing and solving problems are sources of strength and wisdom. Surviving bad times makes you stronger and might be the inspiration for someone else to decide to keep on with it. Life may be a salvage job, but what is “salvage?” Salvage is getting good stuff from things that have been designated as useless, bad or lost beyond hope. Maybe salvage is not such a bad thing.

Al Ive