The Tool Box

There once was a tool box.   It was a very sensible tool box 

with a handle for the carrier to use; a lid to keep all of the 

contents neatly in place.  However, the tool box was a deceitful, 

retched thing.  The conniving box of plastic used trickery and fear to 
bind the holder of the box in its merciless trance.  Inside the box 

was a tray which had all sorts of useless and hurtful tools inside. 

There were four safety plugs with the names: family, relationships, 

intelligence, and politics written upon them.  These plugs forbade the 

user to have a mind of her own.   The plugs let her play it safe and 

not get hurt, or so it seemed.  Upon inspection a locked lock was found. 

This trinket of deception was used to bind the creative flow which begged

to get out.   In one compartment, there was also a unexpected find. 

A dryer sheet was placed, neatly folded and unused.  This was in the tool

box for the mere purpose of superficial fluff.  There was nothing of 

substance to the dryer sheet; once it was used it became void and without 
merit.  Just like when it’s used in the wash cycle yet easily forgotten 

and thrown away after its purpose has been fulfilled.  The last item in 

the top shelf was a plastic anchor.  Doesn’t an anchor hold?  Some 

anchors hold tightly, but a plastic anchor is easily pulled out. 

The plastic cracks when too much pressure is put on it, thus making 
it useless.    Now what does the carrier of the tool box do?  She 

can continue to hold on to the box and accomplish nothing, or dig deeper

to see if anything of use can be found.  Without warning, the insipid 

clouds departed and the holder realized that under the top shelf 
there was another compartment.   To the holders amazement, she found 

many useful tools to be explored.  There was a light bulb which had names

of people and books and events that could help to open her mind to ideas 

and new thought.  A lock which had be rendered inept was found to signify 

that no longer would her mind and eyes be locked away and closed off from 

the world.  There was sandpaper to smooth the edges of the callus that had 

formed.  There was Miracle Grow to encourage new life to spring forth with 

strength and vitality.  A molly bolt was among the treasured finds to be 

used to anchor her own calculated plans and thoughts.  Finally, a measuring 

tape which had no marks upon it was found.   This item was the holders’ 

prize possession.  The holder would no longer measure herself against how 

others were measured and be encumbered by searching for approval in all she 
did.  She could make her own mark on the tape.  Marks of achievement and 

success and even failures.  The bearer of the tool box would not be scared 

of failures any longer because she knew that failures meant future growth 

and were not weighted against the successes of others.