Life is very rarely smooth sailing - we aren't presented with a 'how to' guide for every problem we encounter and we pretty much need to figure it out as we go along. A bit of creativity goes a long way in solving problems with what you have, especially if you don't have a lot, or refuse to be part of a consumer culture as much as possible - or, if you simply want to make and build cool stuff or create something of instrinsic value to you - not something that someone's told you should buy or own or have.

In thinking today about what I'm grateful for, RESOURCEFULNESS is something I really appreciate both in myself and others. I think it's something Mum gave me - she loved to re-use and re-purpose as she came from a big family and not much money and the habit dies hard, even though Dad insists on buying new all the time. She's a lateral thinker and can work out a solution to any problem in a really logical way. The funny thing is, she doesn't see herself as creative at all! Yet she's willing to tinker and to find solutions to problems and make things - isn't that creative?

I definitely want her on board in a zombie apocalypse.

I think that's one of the reasons I fell in love with J. He could figure out solutions to problems just by musing upon them, reading about them, and of late, watching a ton of youtube clips and going on public forums. His philosophy is that if there's anything you can't do, you just figure out how to do it! So I'd definitely want him on my team in a zombie apocalypse too.

For us, it started with books, although now a lot of information comes off the internet which is both a blessing and a curse. I do miss thumbing through books as it's far more tactile and reverent for me than googling. Saying that, you can't knock the incredible amount of info online and J gets a lot of really hands on awesome knowledge from youtube, especially as he pulls apart the Landrover and puts it back together again. And pulls it apart and puts in back together again. Ad infinitum, it seems.

I realised a few years ago that resourcefulness was something I just took for granted.

I was chatting to one of my yoga buddies about fire cider, homemade sourdough and how to fertilise her lemon trees with natural ingredients. She looked at me in wonder and said: 'how on earth do you KNOW all of this stuff?'. It didn't occur to me that people might see a problem and not be able to figure out how to fix it unless someone took them by the hand and told them how to do it.

Maybe it's the old adage that necessity is the mother of invention! We sure as hell weren't going to pay people for a job we could do ourselves. This means a lot of illegal (probably) DIY skills such as J. rewiring the house, plumbing and the like. I'm sure you know how much those tradies charge - sure, they have to earn a living, but I can't afford to pay that. So we learnt how to tile (really badly at first - the evidence is the not so perfect kitchen floor), to paint (though I still paint everything else more than myself) and the like. Poor J. - I think he's earnt his place in my heart just for the hard labour he's done, but I really don't think I'd be tolerant of anyone who didn't have a hearty dose of practical resourcefulness.

It all starts with self belief I think. I've encouraged a lot of people to take on a project and just told them that they can do it if they just lay out a plan and work through it step by step. Examine it from all angles, read about it, talk to other people about how it's done, and it might surprise you, I'll say. I love seeing the joy on people's faces when they create something that they didn't think they can do.

There's a lot of tinkering involved too - you have to let go the idea of perfection and find beauty in the imperfections, but there's an honest integrity about that. I do admire craftsman who spend a lot of time creating absolutely extraordinarily perfect houses, furniture, systems. That's not us - we're a bit more airy than that, although we'd like to think we could make it seamlessly perfect if we wanted to, and do when it comes to things that are important, like the house not falling down in a storm or the pipes not leaking! Actually, J would probably hate this paragraph - it's not entirely true as we've got far better at this stuff over the years.

There's a kind of joy in making too - whether it's craft (don't make me knit or I'll skewer you with the needle), pottery, electronics, restoring a chair or building a table. It's art, self expression, and this kind of pride that comes from making it yourself, an honest self reliance maybe that we're missing in a world that just tells us to throw over a few notes for something someone else has made. There's a kind of self fulfillment in there, a purpose that goes beyond economic value.

It's one of the fantabulous things about Steemit I think - so many tinkerers, creators, makers, do-ers. So many resourceful people doing amazing things with what they have to hand. So thank you all for being so incredible - you teach me so much all the time!

What are you creating, tinkering with, making today? How does resourcefulness look in your life? I'd love to see the comments section here filled with photos to add value to this post - what's been your project of late?

I was tagged by @canadianrenegade to:

Write a post about something you have to be positive about today - this could be anything from being thankful for your current situation, someone being nice to you, being thankful for your friends and family, or even being thankful for the opportunity you have been given here on Steemit - just keep it positive :)

• Do this for 7 days in a row if you get nominated.
• Mention three people who should do this on each day.
• Tag it with #7daypositivitychallenge and include these rules at the bottom of your post Include a picture of something positive (related to your story if possible.)
• Tip: You need to put the # in front of 7daypositivitychallenge or it will not let you use the tag.

Sorry if you've been tagged before in this challenge @movingman @iamjamie @sue-stevenson - please don't feel obligated, but you've been tagged!