James L.

You may be amused to know that in fact, this IS one of my coping strategies, not to pressure myself about getting everything done when I become oversaturated with too many responsibilities.

As you’ve just help me demonstrate, if the opportunity is in the "meant to be category” as I like to think about it, it will most likely come back to remind you and if not, it will simply go away. The important thing that I’ve learned is not to recriminate myself in the missed opportunity category. There have been many times that I have responded to an opportunity too late, or not at all, only to find I’ve missed out on something that in my minds eye, I thought would be life changing. I’ve come to realize that even missing that “big opportunity” has served me in some way that I could never have foreseen_usually in the best way i.e. finding an opportunity that I was ultimately more qualified for or realizing that an opportunity that I missed would have been short lived for me.

The key coping strategies that I try to employ everyday are kindness and forgiveness_for yourself as well as others. Everyone has a fascinating and long story that makes up the framework of their lives. Some people have it easier than others but probably not by much. Happiness is a sliding scale based on and measured by moments. Some people simply have less happiness moments than others. I try to bring more happiness moments to the people I interact with. I have found that the more of this you can promote the more contagious it becomes. Everyone is so mired these days with global and political issues that it’s easy to give into pessimism and hopelessness, or even aggression. None of these feelings are an imperative, they’re all choices we make. When I was a kid in the sixties it seemed like there was an assassination of a social leader everyday, recession, pollution and into the seventies I started to notice crooked politicians (imagine that). Well, I’m here to tell you that as a young child, there wasn’t much I could do about any of it except to feel anxiety. Now, as an adult, I have better choices to take action. I can stay informed, vote and at times have polite discourse with my fellow human beings. Other than that, the day to day sound bites that seem to echo in everyones heads these days have a very small place in mine. Here’s the deal, other than signing a petition, calling a congressman, protesting and voting, how much more is there on us to fix? Actually, surprisingly little. So my point being, I try not to carry the media narrative around with me except for observational humor’s sake (a time honored comedic tradition that I endear). The world has always and will always see craziness and conflict. I think if more of us were to value and share the happiness and forgiveness moments within our small spaces on the earth, it could be the most effective tool we have to bring happiness and joy and even prosperity into our lives and the lives of those around us.