I am having a crappy day. Beyond crappy. In fact, it’s the kind of crappy that I should be excited about because there’s nowhere else to go but up. Still, I’m not going to sit around and sulk all day—I don’t have time for that. Nor am I going to call my mother and complain about how my life sucks (because it really doesn’t, it just seems to suck at the moment). I’m not going to cry, not going to pull my hair, spend the day in bed, or stuff my face with potato chips either. No. Instead, I’m going to remind myself that today, like all other crappy days, too will pass. Because there is nowhere to go but up. A truth I know and have known since grade school.
I was lucky. I went to a school where teachers and coaches alike taught encouragement. Oh, sure, I did my fair share of word problems, read the Newbery award winners, failed one spelling test after another, and basically plodded along through reading, writing, and arithmetic like everyone in every school did, but I was fortunate to have teachers who not only encouraged me to strive for excellence, but also taught me that progress doesn’t come without setbacks.
See life isn’t a bowl of cherries. It’s full of bitter lemons, sweet plums, and mangos that leave stringy bits in between your teeth. And it’s the skills, or coping mechanisms if you will, that we’re taught when we are young that help us appreciate the bitterness, the sweetness and all the in-betweens equally. And maybe, just maybe, if a little more reassurance was sprinkled on the young, then we’d have better adjusted adults, able to understand that disappointments and struggles are necessary to get us where we want to go. Think about it … maybe that’s the key to ending a world where a bad day can send someone into a fury that harms others. Maybe, Just maybe.
Here’s a thought … what if life-skills, coping mechanisms … what if those kinds of classes were added to the core subjects? I mean true fact, I can do long division in my head and it’s a nice party trick, but some mental health skills might be better suited for today’s youth. And not passing wouldn’t be an option.
Cover image created with Google AI (line art).
DISCLAIMER: I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
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