Recalculating – One of life’s critical skills

Once we entered the world of DVRs, two things happened.  We rarely watch live television and, when possible, we avoid commercials.  But we actually stop and watch the Allstate “mayhem” commercials.  I’m sure you must have seen them.  There’s one where “mayhem” (guy in the picture below with a bandage on his head) acts as the car’s GPS and causes an accident as he suddenly recalculates and instructs the driver to change directions.

We refer to our GPS as "Jill” and have this sense that when we deviate from the course and she has to keep adapting, that her tone gets less pleasant each time she says, “Recalculating.”  I’m sure it is imagined, but it seems real.

Recalculating is an important skill as we adapt our path on life’s journey in response to changing circumstance, impediments, and opportunities.  Blindly persisting may appeal to some, but it’s certainly not an effective strategy.

Teaching our children to adapt and change depends in part on their natural inclinations.

• Some people crave change and must be encouraged to persist when the road gets bumpy.
• Others resist change and must be encouraged to adapt lest they run into the oncoming wall.

Consider how you can teach your children to recalculate effectively.  Real-life accidents aren’t funny.

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