We’ve all been there—standing at the edge of a problem that seems too big, too tangled, too impossible to fix. Maybe it’s the crushing weight of a broken system, a fractured relationship, or even just the gnawing ache of your own thoughts that refuse to quiet down. We’re taught to be problem-solvers, to push forward, to fix everything. But what if some things aren’t meant to be fixed? What if that’s… okay?

In the philosophy of The Cult of Brighter Days, this idea takes the form of a simple but powerful symbol: The Boy with the Golden Screw.

The Story of the Boy with the Golden Screw

The tale is simple, almost absurd—like many of the best truths are.

There was once a boy who was born perfectly ordinary, save for one thing: a single golden screw embedded right into the crown of his head. No one knew how it got there. Doctors examined it, philosophers debated it, and conspiracy theorists had their fun. But the boy? Well, he grew up with it. At first, he didn’t think much about it—after all, it had always been there.

But as he got older, the world began whispering in his ear.

“You should get that fixed.”
“It’s not normal.”
“Aren’t you curious what’s under it?”

So, the boy started to wonder. Was it holding something together? Was it keeping him from reaching his potential? Could he be… better without it?

After years of debate, he finally made the decision. He found an old mechanic, someone who had worked on all sorts of strange things in his time. The mechanic didn’t ask questions—he simply brought out his tools.

With careful hands, he placed a golden screwdriver into the slot and began to turn.

One rotation.
Two.
Three.

And with the softest pop, the golden screw came loose.

And then… the boy’s head fell off.

It rolled across the floor, still wide-eyed and now suddenly aware: the screw wasn’t a flaw. It wasn’t an imperfection. It was what held him together.

The mechanic, unfazed, gently picked up the head and placed it back onto the boy’s shoulders. He reinserted the golden screw, tightening it just enough. Then he said, “Some things aren’t meant to be undone. They just are.”

The boy walked away—his head once again secure—but with a new understanding. He stopped seeing the golden screw as something wrong with him. It was part of him. A strange, imperfect, but essential piece of who he was.

Why We Struggle With Acceptance

The tale of the Boy with the Golden Screw feels familiar, doesn’t it? We all have our own “golden screws”—those quirks, traumas, scars, and unfixable parts of ourselves that we carry. And like the boy, we’re often convinced that they’re flaws, that if we just worked harder, or tried the right method, we could unscrew them and finally be normal.

But sometimes, those parts aren’t flaws. They’re integral. They shape who we are, even if they make life a little weirder or harder.

In a culture obsessed with optimization and self-improvement, it’s radical to simply say, “This part of me isn’t perfect, and that’s fine.” Acceptance doesn’t mean loving every part of your pain or resigning yourself to it—it means recognizing that not everything is a problem to be solved.

Embracing the Golden Screw Moments

So, how do we embody the spirit of the Boy with the Golden Screw? Here are a few ways:

1. Sit with discomfort
   Next time you face something painful or imperfect, resist the urge to immediately fix it. Instead, sit with it. Feel it fully. Let it be there without judgment. It’s uncomfortable—but it’s also freeing.
2. Let go of “should”
   How many times have you thought, “I should be over this by now,” or “I should be happier”? Let go of the “shoulds.” They only tighten the screws in your head (metaphorically, of course).
3. Find humor in the absurdity
   Life is weird, chaotic, and often downright ridiculous. Laugh at it. Laugh at yourself. Humor doesn’t erase pain, but it can lighten the load.
4. Practice compassionate detachment
   Sometimes, stepping back from a problem—without emotionally disengaging—can help you see it with clearer eyes. You’re not ignoring it; you’re giving yourself space.

Finding Peace in the Unfixable

The Boy with the Golden Screw reminds us that imperfection isn’t failure. It’s life. And while some screws can (and should) be tightened or loosened, others just are. They don’t define us, but they shape us. And in accepting them, we find a strange kind of peace.

So next time you’re wrestling with something unfixable, remember the Boy. Remember that it’s okay to stop fighting, to stop fixing, and to just be. You’re not broken—you’re just a little absurd. And that’s more than enough.