Life throws us situations that test our tolerance and sense of what’s right. When someone makes an unreasonable claim, we can either give in or fight back. Etienne Constable, who lived in a beach neighbourhood, was in this situation when his homeowners association (HOA) told him to move his boat out of his driveway.
The HOA complained that the boat was ugly, and Constable was given a choice: put the boat behind a fence or pay a $100 fine. Even though the local law was clear, Constable thought the demand was silly. He had done nothing wrong for four years by leaving his boat in the same spot.
Instead of giving up in anger, Constable chose to find a creative way to do what was asked of him. Putting up a fence around his boat and painting a picture of it on it was his project. This smart move not only met the HOA’s needs, but it also made the fence look like a work of art.
Constable’s painting went viral very quickly, and he became famous in his community. His neighbours were so impressed with how creative he was that they asked him to make murals on their homes too. Even though the city has heard about the problem, Constable hasn’t heard any more reports from them.
It’s important to remember that when people make unreasonable demands, the best thing to do is to think outside the box and come up with a creative answer. This way, we can change a bad situation for the better and even make something beautiful along the way.
