I never have “bad days.” What most people seem to consider a “bad day,” I understand as a change of plans.
The other day, I walked out my house, to head to the gym for a personal training session with a new, serious client (serious meaning she came to the free consultation ready to pay for her transformation and didn’t flinch at the price). I digress.
I walked up to my truck and saw what looked like the entire contents of my radiator on the ground. I had an $800 problem; one of my rear freeze plugs was leaking. I rescheduled my training session, called my mechanic to get my truck in the shop then called my mother to borrow her car. Not a bad day, just a change of plans.
The truck repair took a day longer than anticipated and since I have several things on my “to do” list every day; I borrowed my Mother’s car the next day. I picked up Mother and dropped her off at work and while on my way to handle the business of the day, I hit a pothole on one of East Tampa’s many raggedy a– roads. I busted the rear, passenger side tire and bent the rim.
Fortunately, Mother had a spare in the trunk. Unfortunately, there were no tools to change the tire. I was sidelined until a brother, with a helpful spirit, a little time on his hands and the tools I needed, helped me get back on the road. I ran a few errands, which included a $40 trip to the used tire shop and then I headed straight to the office. Not a bad day, just a change in plans.
About six hours later, my mechanic, whose shop is on 34th street, called to let me know my truck was ready. As soon as I hung up with him, Mother, who was in West Tampa, called to tell me she was ready. The plan?
Pick up Mother and then make it across town to pick up my truck. I go outside to get in Mother’s car and wouldn’t you know it? The front, passenger side tire is flat (no doubt a result from the pothole in the raggedy a– road). I don’t have any tools to change it, remember? So, I borrow a car to pick up mother, call AAA to fix Mother’s car and find a friend to take me to truck. Not a bad day, just a change in plans.
I’m sure some people would consider the circumstances above as “having a bad day.” I’m just as certain those events would put those same people in a not so positive mood. No doubt, I would’ve been in a not so positive mood, because I was “having a bad day,” if those things happened to me years ago. These days, I understand that such occurrences are simply a part of the living experience.
Dig. If it is intelligent to predict, expect and plan things, it is equally intelligent to anticipate the very real possibility that things may not go exactly how we predict, expect or plan them to- hell, they may go completely opposite!
As intelligent adults, we shouldn’t spazz out when things don’t happen like we want them to; rather, every day, we should build ourselves flexible, skillful and patient enough to make necessary adjustments to the unforeseen. Life gives us mysteries to solve 24/7. Some people choose to get mad at ‘em (have bad days); I choose to get good at ‘em; honestly, I look forward to ‘em. I NEVER have a bad day!
Salute!
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