As a mother of two small children, I am well versed in children’s literature. One of my favorite stories is a book called, “Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” This classic tale outlines a day for Alexander, in which nothing seems to go his way. By the end of the story, he says, “I think I’ll just move to Australia.” I love this story, because I can so relate.

Just this week I had a day that qualified as a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. It started on Sunday night. I had to fly to Denver for a business trip. The flight was scheduled to depart at 5:20. I squealed out of my driveway at 4:19- not a good start. On the interstate, I got behind a police car which meant I was forced to go the speed limit all the way to the airport- The NERVE of law keepers! I rushed out of my car and ran to the gate, lugging 2 suitcases and a computer bag. Sweating and out of breath I shoved my license to the gate attendant at exactly 4:50. “I’m sorry Miss but that flight has just been closed,” the gate attendant said with what I am sure was smug satisfaction. I argued, I pleaded- but all efforts were in vain. I was put on the morning flight- which now had a connection through Chicago. Waking up on Monday at 3:00 a.m. was no fun. I arrived, this time early for my flight to be told that my first leg was delayed 2 hours, which would cause me to miss my connection. I would now have to fly into Chicago, then Colorado Springs, and then to Denver. Instead of arriving at 9am I would not get there until 1:30. To top it all off, I found out that my direct flight from the night before- ended up being delayed for 1.5 hours, meaning I had more than ample time to make the flight. I was as we say in the south, fit to be tied!

To make matters worse, I had to check my suitcase with wheels- leaving me with a computer bag and a garment bag. I insisted on carrying the garment bag because it contained the samples (24 to be precise) I was to deliver to my customer in Denver, and I did not want to risk it getting lost. When we finally arrived in Chicago I had what I am sure was a 3 mile hike to my next gate. The combined weight of both bags was well over 50 pounds. I felt like a pack mule wearing heals! I thought I would pass out before getting to my gate. Starving, I was relieved that the 40 minute lay over in Colorado Springs would at least allow me time to eat. However as my luck would have it the only place to eat was a burrito stand that had just run out of tortilla wraps. I ate black beans, salsa and lettuce out of a bowl for lunch- yum. Once in Denver, I sat in baggage claim for over an hour before being notified that my bag was no where to be found.

I sat all day, brewing over the plight I was in. I conspired over how I would get revenge on United Airlines. I had a sour attitude and wanted to say to anyone who looked at me, “what are YOU looking at?” I obsessed over all the bad things that had gone wrong. I was sure I had some how obtained the Midas touch of bad luck.

{sidebar id=14} Pulling out of the parking garage at the rental car lot, I looked down to see that my rental car was only ¾ full of gas. I hit the roof and literally starting talking to myself in the car. “This is just great- What else is going to go wrong today.” All of the sudden, my precious inner voice of reason answered my outburst with an almost audible response, “SHUT UP! So what, you are having a bad day- it happens. You are still incredibly blessed. Everything about today has not been bad. Right now- name 10 good things that have happened today.” It was not easy- but I did it anyway. Number 1: I got to kiss my baby this morning. 2: I am loved by a wonderful husband 3: my family is safe 4: I got a lot of work done on the planes 5: I am now in Denver 6: I did eat lunch 7: I did not have to sit in a middle seat 8: My cell phone battery is still good 9: I have money for the toll booths 10: I have what I need to deliver to my customer.

Instantly I felt the cloak of despair begin to lift off of me. “Let it go….” My inner voice whispered. For the next 30 minutes, I turned up the radio to uplifting music and with deliberate determination tried to do just that- let it go.

Later that night I laughed with my husband about my day. I felt a thousand times better- and realized that although I did have difficulties, most of the damage was caused by my own self destructive attitude. Once I took control over it, everything else seemed to get better. Just like the last sentence of Alexander’s story. His Mom told him, “Some days are just like that, even in Australia…”

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