Tuesday this week, I gave up.
It had been one of those days where nothing really went right.
I had a royal mess on my hands with one project.
The gal hosting a telesummit I'd been invited to teach on had gone silent; I had no idea if we were on or off (follow up makes my world go around.)
The two vendors I'd called at 4pm, knowing they both closed at 5pm, had not returned my calls or emails stranding me for the next day.
An important file was MIA in one of the tidy stacks of paper on my very small desk (how can I lose anything when I don't have the space to lose it in?)
I reached out to a friend for support, but no reply (and I don't reach out
easily.)
A guest who'd recently rented my mountain cabin sent me a zinger of an email, I couldn't tell if he was being hugely sarcastic or genuine, but I already felt punched down and couldn't get excited or worried about his remarks (his daughter was scared by the wind chime in the night?)
A colleague told me that when she'd called days earlier my phone informed her "this user has not set
up their voicemail." WAAAAAAAAAAA, how embarrassing. It is a new phone (a mere 3 hours out of my life on Saturday)and I thought voicemail was tied to the carrier, not the phone. ACK.
(Yes, it did seem odd I wasn't getting voicemails and would see numbers of missed calls, but then it was kind of nice not having to keep up for a wee bit.)
And my cat, whom I normally adore, was whining
incessantly as she stickered her way across the carpet (she is in need of a claw trim and puts up a fierce fight when being invited to her carrying case, a fight in which I lose blood if not a limb.)
Then I realized I couldn't really get too worked up over any of this.
WHY NOT?
I was pacing in a place I genuinely enjoy living in (did I mention I
don't sit still very well?)
It was a gorgeous Fall day outside and the sun was starting to head toward another picturesque sunset.
I'm in the best shape of my life (pretty proud of that at 50+, and yes it is because of decisions I make around exercise and diet, no luck here.)
My clients are incredibly cool people who trust, respect, and
appreciate me.
Any issue I have pales by comparison to what people in Syria are going through with bombings daily.
Or the victims of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti.
Perspective is priceless.
What's yours?
It's easy to let large challenges, minor
frustrations, and ticklish issues derail your day, week, or month.
Change is the only certainty we have.
The moment you are in will change in the next; count on it and keep it in perspective.
Mega Hugs,
Melissa
PS. Yes, I am keenly aware of just how fortunate I am. And I, like you,
occasionally forget and indulge in self-sabotage and even self-pity for no very good reason. Better to pull my super hero cape out and soar into solutions. (You've got one too!)
PSPS. Wednesday I awoke with an attitude shift and approached the day with a smile instead of a grimace, amazing what a difference that made! Change your perspective and you'll change your life.
___