Sweating the Small Stuff…Nah…

I’m wondering if as I age, my give-a-shit quotient is diminishing. Here’s the deal: at the moment, we are without AC and our well is acting up. We have water, but one of us has to go out to the garage and keep an eye on the breaker so that if it trips while the other is in the shower, we can switch it back and the water will continue to flow. Our AC is part of a geothermal heat pump, so no water, no AC. It’s a typical Midwestern summer here, so heat and humidity are the order of the day.

In spite of all that, I’m happily working on my editing gigs, critiquing a chapter for my crit partner, and writing, and not really stressing. The well guys are coming on Monday, we’re getting Son at the airport tonight, and then driving up to the lake, where, by the way, we have both water and AC. We can shut things up here and enjoy a long weekend with our kid, whom we haven’t seen in way longer than my mom tolerance can handle, so all is good.

Several years ago, I would’ve been screamingly upset about a lack of AC and water problems. Even an inconvenience like having to stand by the breaker box would have put me at a frustration level close to 10. But today, none of this isn’t worrying me a bit. My dear friend, Connie, taught me: In a bad situation, ask yourself, “is anyone going to die over this?” Nope, nobody’s gonna die. Yep, this is inconvenient and yeah, I’m sweating. But you know, my life is so blessed. I have so many wondrous things happening right now, a little inconvenience is no big deal.

As I get older, I’m realizing how most issues that may have seemed insurmountable before really are just small stuff. Last night, the weather cooled and we got a lovely breeze as we slept. This morning, standing by the breaker box while Husband showered, I got to read another chapter of my latest Bob Mayer (www.bobmayer.org/ ) novel. That was an unexpected treat. Flight delays that stranded poor Son in the Denver airport last night are allowing him to come to me about 6 hours earlier than originally planned. So, I get to mommy him even longer this weekend.

Okay, so it’s a Pollyanna attitude, I admit it. But I think it’s also that age brings wisdom and perspective, as well as crow’s feet and gray hair. I’m learning to relax, to take life at a slower pace, to stop stressing over things I can’t control. It’s a good feeling…