My One Good Nerve
According to the Urban Dictionary, the term my last good nerve means, “The final point of remaining calm.”
Working as a leader you no doubt have found your own last good nerve on a few occasions. If you’ve not experienced your last good nerve, I have a suggestion for you: undertake a renovation of your home and find out that the work estimated to be done in three months is now dragging out to five months.
The term last good nerve came to me to describe my feelings when having to speak with my contractor about the status of projects and my move in date. I thought “My Last Good Nerve” was the title of Ruby Dee’s one-woman show I saw in 1998 at Hunter College. Ms. Dee, wife of the late Ossie Davis, named her show, My One Good Nerve, the same as her book of that title.
By Friday of last week, my one and last good nerve was stretched to the point of disintegration! I felt depleted of patience, creativity, and energy (and of course money but that’s a different entry). The master bathroom alone was just cause. The radiator looked ugly, too big and not at all in the style of my glass tiled walls. The gorgeous glass wall tiles cracked on one wall and another wall caught the infection when the shower curtain rod holder was installed. The contractor cut a “U” in the second drawer of the vanity so it could fit around pipe; when I opened the drawer, it was obvious anything put in there would fall out.
My one and last good nerve gave way when I heard that it would be two more weeks until I could move in — necessitating what would be my fifth move during this process. What a way to end a week!
Saturday morning as scheduled, however, I met a close friend, her husband, and six year old twins for a tour of the apartment that they hadn’t seen since the reno started. “Oh, Leigh, this is beautiful.” “Wow, this is great!” The children’s eyes were wide with the transformation.
My close friend loved the radiator, thought it fit perfectly. Her husband admired the glass tiles and said, “Cracks can be fixed.” “Leigh, this vanity is the best part of the bathroom. I love it,” my friend said touching the drawers and admiring the color in between.
What did I learn from this timely visit? Obviously, the radiator can be boxed in, the glass tiles replaced, the “U” in the vanity finished. My leadership lesson, however, was that fresh eyes can bring new perspectives to issues.
Plus, I know now that I will have a place to stay thanks to another good friend and that in two weeks my one good nerve can relax as I settle into my new home.