#ELBlog #154: C3PO, Shut Down
All The Garbage Compactor’s On The Maintenance Level
Like many others, I grew up as a fan of Star Wars. I lived through many phases of my life, and in them the phases and stories of the entire Star Wars series. I’m not a Star Wars junkie like my brother, sister, and nephew who know every character, and every line, from every movie. (My sister Suzanne even has her Christmas tree filled with almost everything you could think of Star Wars.) They are true fans, but I love the stories. The stories of good versus evil. The stories of collaboration. The stories of the underdog, and the story of never giving up. This is one of my favorite scenes from Star Wars Episode Four (A New Hope).
Han Solo, Luke, and the team, like in many scenes throughout the movies were running from The Storm Troopers. To escape, they dove down a trash chute, which landed them in a garbage compactor. The compactor was then turned on and began closing in on them. Through the power of collaboration and communication, they were rescued and narrowly escaped death. This is just one of many times throughout the movie, as the fight continued on.
The concept for today’s blog is just that. What do we do when the walls are closing around us? What can we do when there are sewer animals grabbing our ankles looking to suffocate and drown us while the walls are closing in? The pandemic has done this to us too many times.
People in every walk of life are feeling suffocated, and like the walls are closing in on them. Whether this is due to quarantine, work situations, not seeing friends, etc, what can we do and how can we support our friends who might feel like they are in a garbage compactor whose walls are closing in?
Well, what did our heroes do in the movie?
1. They tried to brace the walls: they grabbed whatever they could and tried to brace the walls from coming in.
2. Use humor: Like many times in the stories, Han Solo made a joke saying, “Well at least we’ll all be a little thinner!” Humor can help.
3. Brainstorm: throughout the ordeal they brainstormed. They shared ideas out loud and thought about different escape routes.
4. Finally, they called for help. They called C-3PO who they knew could help them. “Shut down all the garbage mashers on the Detention Level!” When he didn’t answer they called again, and again, until he indeed did help them.
5. They accepted the help. Sometimes when we are closed in, we don’t reach out our hands, and we don’t accept the help that is there. See where the help is and accept the help.
This is an old scene, and a made-up situation, in a fantasy movie however this scenario is real for many. Recognize those who may feel like the walls are closing in and offer that help. If it is you, try to work through it like our friends from Star Wars and ask for help!
Keep rolling everyone, brighter days are ahead. This too shall pass. If I can help you in any way, don’t hesitate to reach out. #Survivethrive
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Quote: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to
yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French writer and pioneering aviator.
