Building A Better Life

Personal essay about strength and determination

Building A Better Life 

By CM Flasker 

When I was in my thirties, I was determined to be more self-sufficient so I, in an effort to be both more reliant on myself and save money, bought furniture that required assembly. On the day the bookshelf arrived I came home to see the UPS driver dropped the box at the bottom of the stairs even though my apartment was on the second floor. Since it was too heavy to lift, I spent the first part of my evening moving pieces from the box, one at a time, up the stairs. 

The instructions stated the assembly required two people, but I was still determined. I began to work on the frame, but since I needed both hands to secure each side, every time I let go to either grab another tool or part of the bookcase, both sides would cave in and smack me on the head. Two hours and a massive migraine later I completed the frame. I did mess up some of the trim so I had to improvise and glue pieces where I could. The bookcase was poorly and incorrectly constructed with mostly particleboard, but it was complete. 

Every time I moved, which was about ten times, things would get left behind, lost, or fall apart yet the bookcase would journey on. I had the bookcase for thirty-two years, forced only to surrender during my recent eviction. The contents, filled with books, gave me joy and the exterior was an example of my strength and determination. I hold onto the memory just as I continue to hold onto my strength and determination.