Godmother's Advice #034: Think in 3D

Some problems cannot be solved in the usual ways—problems like moving cement from a mixer to a building when you’ve got a little store in the way and more complicated problems in our lives. In these situations, we need to abandon our usual ways of thinking, look up, and recognize there is a whole new “dimension” to be explored. Perhaps it is there that we can see a way. Chin up.

-The Godmother

Construction chaos: There is a little store blocking the street from this massive building under construction next to my house. So, this is how the cement mixer is delivering the cement for the floor. They don’t have any rules about safety here (enforced ones anyway), so these massive machines operate in the middle of the road as pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and cars drive by dodging swinging cables and moving mechanical arms. The workers come from the countryside and camp out for months under a flimsy tarp (on the right) working from sunup to sundown. They cut and weld metal with sparks flying everywhere, sit suspended on tiny boards to rig up rebar, and tiptoe over 2x4s—all without any safety equipment, i.e., no protective eye ware, no boots, no hard hats (though some wear their motorcycle helmets). Everything is more dangerous here but the people are used to it. It is amazing what you can get used to.

* Many of you missed the previous "Special Edition: How to Eat a Tarantula" Godmother's email as there were many photos and it likely ended up in your spam folder. If you did miss it, check it out here.

You're welcome to share this email. The Godmother says, "The more the merrier!"

Facebook

Did you miss a previous Godmother's Advice email?

#001: Khmer boxing & solving problems
#002: Workers' commute & "making room"
#003: Bright balloons & dangerous attractions
#004: Bats and others' ways
#005: Playing in the mud
#006: Tattoos and bad habits
#007: Make-believe
#008: Dental and other care
#009: Boat races and collaboration
#010: Loads carried
#011: Nothing beyond repair
#012: Solid bricks
#013: Toilet left standing
#014: Flying a kite
#015: Everyone is held
#016: Dry fish in the sun
#017: Little children

#018: Worth looking for
#019: Two-way windows
#020: Heroes emerge
#021: A wide net cast
#022: Take what you need
#023: Make your own fun
#024: See what the sun smiles on
#025: Fly high
#026: Open the treasure chest
#027: Where greatness lies
#028: Practice holiness
#029: Say it
#030: Read
#031: Leave alone to grow
#032: Judge the destination
#033: Choke it down

Background about this email: Several years ago, I was feeling like an inadequate Godmother due to my absence in the US and, consequently, my absence in my Godsons' lives. I decided to send what little advice I have as someone who has been in the world for 30 years longer than they. Thus was born my Godmother's emails--a tidbit of advice each week. I decided to share these emails with friends and others because I feel that folks need some good, helpful or happy things in their Inbox these days. I hope these Godmother's advice emails are good, helpful or happy for you; otherwise, unsubscribe below.

Unsubscribe from Godmother's Advice email

This email and my work in Cambodia is made possible by the Maryknoll Lay Missioners program through which I serve. To support me, use this secure online form. If you are outside the US, you can donate through PayPal.com (specify "maria_montello@yahoo.com" as the recipient).

For checks, please mail to Maryknoll Lay Missioners, PO Box 307, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0307.

Note: Please designate "Maria Montello Mission Account" in the memo line for checks or in the "Comments" box for Web donations if you would like a portion of your contribution to go directly to support my projects. Otherwise, the full gift will go to the Missioner Sustenance Fund, which is cool too. That fund is used to pay out my living expenses and health insurance, and to keep the lights on at the MKLM headquarters.

All US-based contributions are tax deductible

Were you forwarded this email and would like to receive it yourself weekly?
Sign up here.