One of Those Days

 

When it rains, it pours…

Have you ever had “one of those days?” You know, the ones where, right from the start, everything just seems off. Those are the day when, if bad news is going to come, it’s going to come in droves; when coffee is guaranteed to not only spill, but to stain your white shirt; when you’ll stub your toe on the coffee table you walk by just fine any other day; when your cat will leave you a gift that you’ll somehow step on perfectly on target in the dark; when you can’t find that document that you know you were looking at just the other day; when you just want to get back in bed and start over again.

I’m in the middle of one of those days right now. So far, I’m still spill-free (though, anyone who knows me knows that even just a normal day spill-free is a stretch for me, so I’m sure that’ll change any moment) and haven’t stubbed my toe…yet. Sparing you the gory details, let’s just say that, so far, today has been a doozy.

We often hear that our character is built just as much by our reactions as it is by our actions, and I believe that to be very true. Yet, our reactions are often much harder to control than our actions. It’s situations that come up—storms, trials, hardships, tragedies, surprises, or so many other things—that test us. If you want to get spiritual, it’s the fire that purifies us, as is a concept of many prominent faiths. The road of life is not smooth cruising, nor is it intended to be, but rather it’s the obstacles, roadblocks, speedbumps, detours, and traffic jams we encounter along the way that, as cliché as it sounds, “build character” and give us the experience, training, development, muscles, and scars that give us value and allow us to find that gold that’s deep inside everyone.

We all have “one of those days” from time to time. They’re not fun, but I believe they’re good for us. The tragedy of those days would be if we didn’t learn from them or grow alongside them. So, after the bursts of expletives are over, the tears are shed, the anxiety peaks, and the heart stops racing, when you do have a day that’s unpleasant, do yourself a favor and take a moment alone to debrief after it’s done so you don’t miss the little golden nuggets that just may have come to the surface during the upheaval.

So, today, as I sort through the muck of the day, I need to remember that this is polishing muck. This is a mud bath. This is going to make me appreciate good things more and have more patience when things don’t work out as planned; this trains my adaptivity muscles and prepares my pivoting neurons; this strengthens my resolve and reminds me, once again, of the big picture and what is really ultimately important.

Tomorrow will be a good day!

 

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Marty Johnson is the Communication and Vision Coach at AYM High Consultants, a columnist, and an editor, producing the mail and business center industry's leading magazine, MBC Today. In 2023, he sold his popular and growing brand, Uncle Marty’s Shipping Office, and retired from shopkeeper life to focus on writing and coaching. Subscribe to his Ask Uncle Marty™ newsletter and read more at askunclemarty.com; follow him on socials @askunclemarty. #AskUncleMarty

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This article was co-published on the AYM High Consultants blog and on askunclemarty.com on April 11, 2024.