Murphy's Law and The Positive Side Ignorance

Murphy's Law:   Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

I have always loved the Murphy's Law part of life...for some reason the whole idea just makes me laugh. It is a given that things will go wrong at the most inopportune time. We have all had those frustrating experiences. So it is not whether they will happen, it is how we handle it when they do.

Remember the presentation that went perfectly in the dry run that failed a few minutes later because the computer knew how you were nervous and sensed your insecurity? In fact, according to Murphy's Law the likelihood that the computer will fail is directly proportionate to the importance of the presentation.

Others have followed in Murphy's footsteps with laws of their own. LBJ even has one attributed to him. One of those laws is proof that it is our attitude that counts. That one is the Law of Logical Argument. It goes like this:

• Anything is possible IF you don't know what you are talking about.

It is speaking about the ignorance of those arguing a question. Yes, I recognize that some things that people believe are possible seem and are very nearly impossible. But on the other hand who is to say what is and isn't likely.  It was Thomas Edison that said "Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." What you don't know may be harmful but on the other hand what we don't know can lead us to discover a way to do the impossible.

I probably have a pair of glasses
just this color!

I had a carpenter working for me years ago. I wanted an interior wall opened up and a french door installed...sounds very HGTVish doesn't it. I had my heart set on it and I was hoping that nothing would go wrong. Imagine my disappointment when his immediate reaction was that it could not be done. There was water and electricity in the way. He was the carpenter so I probably could have agreed and given up the idea. But my mind just doesn't work that way. I stood in stunned silence for a minute mulling that over. Then I remember looking at him and saying nothing is impossible...some things just take a little longer. I enjoyed that door for many years to come.

So Murphy, while I agree that things can and will go wrong, I still laugh when they do. I probably blundered into the situation because I didn't know what I was doing and when I don't know what I'm doing, I generally succeed in spite of Murphy's Law. But then that is just me.

Have a wonderful day.

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