From Now On...

Sometimes bad things happen and it's pure bad luck.

This was not one of those times.

There is a specific pain that accompanies bad things that were preventable, and today I experienced that very acute variety of pain.

My truck was broken into and some tools were stolen. Why? Well..., perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I left expensive power tools, along with the batteries and charger in plain view for any would-be thief to see. If I were unaware that thieves were lurking constantly, this misstep may have been forgivable. But I know all too well, given that my truck was stolen along with ALL the tools just 6 short months ago. How could I be so dumb???

Truth is, it's not a matter of intelligence. I DID know better, I just got complacent. I got comfortable. Why? I don't know. Maybe it's just human nature, but "why" is not as good a question to ask as "how" do I avoid this from happening again? How do I discipline myself to do the things I'm supposed to do each and every time I lock up my truck for the night? I don't know the answer to that either, but I do have a hypothesis I'm willing to test:

According to William James, known as the "Father of American Psychology," human behaviors, both good and bad, are rooted in habit. Just as I have made a habit of leaving tools in plain sight, I must develop a new habit of securing and concealing all tools at the end of each day. And how do I develop a habit? He has provided just the prescription:

...in the acquisition of a new habit,...we must...launch ourselves with as strong and decided an initiative as possible; put yourself assiduously in conditions that encourage the new way; take a public pledge...

And so here is my experiment (a public pledge):

From now on...when I park my truck for the evening, I lock up all expensive tools and conceal anything and everything that may appeal to a thief.

I sure hope this works because I'm really tired of getting my truck busted up and my tools stolen. Who knows?...If this does work for this one bad habit, maybe I can use the same technique to re-engineer all my bad habits! Imagine the possibilities!!!