Little Losses

Everyone has had some kind of devastating loss, or losses, in their lifetime - death, divorce, debt, illnesses - and it seems like its easier to cope with those bigger issues of life than it is with the little losses. How many times have you misplaced your keys, and find that one little thing triggers what seems to be an entire day gone bad? Or had a past due bill that you were so sure you'd already paid, only to find it misplaced?

I can't tell you how many times I've lost my keys. It was a running joke when I lived in California;Mom would send me cards offering to 'find my keys for me'. When I lived in Ohio, my friend Sharon had paid her phone bill one winter, but her phone service was cut off. She found where she'd written the check in the checkbook, and just knew that she'd put it out for the postman. A couple weeks later, when the snows had melted off, there was the addressed and stamped phone bill payment. It had been blown away and stuck in the snow for a couple of weeks. Later, of course, we were able to chuckle about it - but at the time, it was a big inconvenience, and very upsetting.

We've all had days like that, I'm sure -- and we'll have more. It's a part of life. But what makes all the difference is our attitude toward those little things. Too often we let these inconsequential nuisances become the influence over our day. So instead of letting that little thing create a bigger thing, I say we all take a moment and ask ourselves, "Will I remember this in a year? in five years? in twenty years?" By putting the little things into perspective --and practicing this on a regular basis-- you'll notice a difference in how you react when they pop up from time to time. Which leaves you with a less stressful day, and more energy to put toward things that really matter.

HUGS to everyone!