What can you do when you’re running late for that doctor appointment- you know, the one you schedule a year in advance, and have a reminder on your calendar, your phone, and your refrigerator? You’re sitting on the freeway, in a line of traffic, some two miles behind an accident, just watching the minutes climb on the clock in your car. You’re never going to make it on time now. You’re not even going to be rudely late. In fact, you know they just charged you the “missed appointment” fee, and advised the doctor you’re a no-show. Any second now your phone is going to ring, it will be the doctor’s office letting you know you’ll need to reschedule… Yep, there it goes. What do you do? Just breathe.
You’re about to go into an interview for your dream job. You’ve done all your research. This is a solid company, with lots of room for you to grow and excel. Appearance is part of the position, and you’ve taken every measure to look and dress your best. You’re sitting in your car, going over your notes just one last time. You know you have an answer for every question they could possibly ask you, and you can confidently tell them why you’re attracted to their company. One last check in the visor-mirror to make sure there’s no lipstick on your teeth, and you’re off….that is, until the cup of coffee you forgot you placed on the middle console, is suddenly jarred by your elbow! You watch- almost in slow-motion, your pulse racing, your mind anticipating the final outcome, as the cup teeters, then topples toward the passenger seat, all the while spewing droplets of coffee, miraculously high in the air, that are this second landing…right…on…your…lap. What in heaven’s name do you do now? Just breathe.
Finally, it’s the big trip of a lifetime! You’ve waited- no, you’ve counted down the days until this very moment, when you and your husband can leave it all behind, and relax for two, fun-filled, breathlessly-romantic, weeks in paradise. You painstakingly read every travel magazine, book, and pamphlet on Bora Bora you could get your hands on, to make sure you reserved the right hotel. You checked out every discount airfare website on the internet to make sure you got the best deal. You even went swimsuit shopping in the winter…the WINTER…with pale white skin, and pre-diet body in order to find the perfect suit!! Now you can actually fit into that suit, and you treated yourself to a base tan as well. You’ve allowed plenty of time to get to the airport, despite traffic congestion, and construction delays. You catch the first shuttle from the car-park to the terminal without having to wait in the lot. You packed all your lotions and liquids in your checked luggage, and your carry-on has enough pockets, you didn’t need to bring a purse. What could possibly go wrong? The airport is bustling, but the line to your airline’s check-in is miraculously short. The pretty agent at the counter greets you with a big smile and asks the magic question to get your vacation started: “May I have your passports, please?” You glance over at your husband, knowing he has them in his hand. He’s looking at you with a “why-aren’t-you-getting-them-out-of-your-carry-on-bag?” look. Both of your smiles are fading fast, and the counter agent looks like she’s watching a tennis match, as her eyes travel back and forth between the two of you. Your mind is racing. Where did you last see the passports? Didn’t he have them? No. You had them. You made sure YOU had them! You distinctly remember placing them in the inner pocket of…your purse! Whew! You’re relieved as you reach into your carry-on then stop suddenly. They’re in your purse. The very purse you didn’t bring because your carry-on has enough space for all your necessities… Realization sets in very quickly. What do you do? Just breathe.
Of course, instances like these do not happen on a daily basis, thankfully. If they did, we might all go mad, or just all become hermits, never leaving our homes. No, these are exaggerated examples of why we must learn to adapt to situations beyond our control, or sometimes to situations that we could control if we would have planned better.
Life gets messy, complicated, and sometimes we just have to accept the predicament we’re in. We have to cope. We have to just breathe. Take it one moment at a time, and find our way through the problem. Sometimes it will mean that we are going to have to face the consequences, and sometimes we can go to Plan B. Even when it feels like you might spontaneously combust from sheer frustration, the only thing you can do is take a big, deep breath, and then, let it out.
Recently, someone on Facebook, asked the question, “What is a common word or phrase that you feel is overused?” People were commenting things like “awesome,” “I know, right?” or “LOL.” I was surprised when one person said “this too, shall pass.” That phrase has got to be one of my mantras. In any situation that is trying, or difficult, I tell myself, “This too, shall pass.” It’s a coping mechanism, just like taking a deep breath and letting it out. Before you go into panic mode, before you start to cry or swear, or react at all, tell yourself that you can handle what life throws you, but first, just breathe.
The world WILL NOT stop turning just because you missed an appointment, went to an interview with coffee stains, or had to reschedule a trip. You might feel that it will when you’re in the moment, but trust me, it won’t. You might even find yourself recounting the scenario later on and laughing…yes, laughing, about it. It’s called life. It happens. We aren’t guaranteed a front parking spot, a warning instead of a traffic ticket, or that promotion at the office. It’s okay. Just breathe.
Tami Loves…taking a moment to breathe, and hit the reset button.
