An object in our home directs me to my musings for the day. I am sitting in a comfy spot in our apartment and, as I glance up from my laptop to think of a word, my eye catches a glimpse of our brand new chandelier hanging over our dining room table.
I was very excited anticipating its arrival. But now that it hangs over our dining room table, I am not in love. As a matter-of-fact, I am very upset.
The chandelier traveled all the way from a Texas factory so I cannot send it back. It was custom made. I keep going back and forth in my mind as to what to do. I am so aggravated with myself because I did not listen to my heart when I ordered it.
My heart told me to go with another fixture that I adored, dear readers, and though we could afford it, I thought it was not necessary to spend so much money. I was wrong.
For the past few weeks, I have been fretting over what to do with this chandelier. Add crystals? Repaint the branches a more vivid silver leaf? Or live with it in its present state?
Today, as I glance at the chandelier with chagrin, a 'light bulb' goes on as I remind myself, "My relationship with this chandelier is trivial compared to my mother's failing health. Or, a young girl I know whose father is leaving the USA and moving to the Philippines for a woman he met on a dating site!"
My mom and the young girl have to co-exist with something serious. And yet, many of us are challenged by the small things, aren't we? We should co-exist gracefully with unresolved situations because the, fact of the matter is, most situations are trivial.
Think about the daily circumstances that stress us to the nines. We can't find our cell phones. We burned the English muffins. We can't get taxis... when we are running late, of course! The disposal is clogged in the apartment next door and their refuse backs into our kitchen sinks! These are truly trivial, solvable problems that are -- nonetheless -- irritating.
We, dear readers, realize that life is filled with unresolved problems, most falling into the trivial category.
There is good news: Our ability to co-exist with trivial problems has practical value.
There is better news: Today, I am sharing my 'magic formula' for counting your blessings instead of your sorrows:
1. Problems take time to solve. Until then, we will co-exist gracefully with our trivial problems.
2. We have to be patient, putting what we know is a trivial problem into perspective... even though we are irritated to the nines!
3. We must contain the trivial problem, co-exist with it, but not allow it to affect the rest of our lives.
4. We should take every action we can to find a resolution because then we will be able to say to ourselves, "I have done everything I can. Now I am putting it to bed."
That is the course of action I am going to take with my chandelier. I will use my own 'magic formula.'
I will stay calm. I will stay patient. I will co-exist. I will remember that this problem is fixable. And, under no circumstance I allow the trivial to interfere with the many treasured moments in my life.