How to Weather Life's Unfortunate Events

Editor's Note: This is a guest post by Melissa Gorzelanczyk of Peace & Projects.

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray." – Robert Burns

Here in Wisconsin, we've had the snowiest winter in decades. Granted, we live in this snowy state by our own choice, but that doesn't erase our lust for sunlight. Each day the snow melts gives us hope.

The good news is, spring officially started 30 days ago.

The bad news is, we just got 6 more inches of snow. As I'm writing this, the flakes are still tumbling from the clouds, blanketing our nearly-green lawn with another layer of white. I know the snow won't last, but the principle of enduring another snowstorm 30 days into spring is disheartening.

In life, snow is not the only thing that falls.

We face disappointments, big and small. We scramble for ways to weather the storms.

Maybe you woke up excited to write in solitude, only to find out there's a two-hour delay for school. Maybe you're anxious to minimize your possessions, but the rest of your family laughs at the notion. Maybe your teen daughter decided your rules are dumb, and stops following them.

If snow in spring – or teenage drama or unexpected backlash – has dimmed your happiness, here are some tips to help you thrive in the face of disappointment. It really is possible to still shine brightly:

Live today, cherish now.

This morning, it's a regular weekday, it snowed (again!) and school was delayed. I wondered bitterly, what's so great about today? The answer was, well, more than I thought.

Pondering my life, I realized that while some people in the world are sick, my family is healthy. While snow is piling up, we are warm. While someone out there is lonely, we have each other, even on regular, "boring" weekdays.

When plans in life go astray, try on a new perspective, like I did. Try thinking, "Today is a gift." Live for now, not just the plans in the future … not just for spring. Cherish what is happening in this very moment, even when it snows.

Love always.

Our kids don't always like our rules. If you're a parent, you know the drill. Rules get ignored and consequences are handed out. Those aren't my favorite moments. When my daughter is acting up, it helps to remember how much I love her, no matter how bad her attitude. This softens a frustrating moment. It takes the sting out of backtalk.

Love always. Put it in front of every action, even when your loved one is acting in anger.

When all else fails …

… take my son's suggestion and "Put a flame-thrower shield over the house." Then, donate the melted snow to communities that need water.

Yes, that's how Wisconsinites thwart snow in spring. Sitting around the kitchen table, we shared a laugh at the thought. Truthfully, it helped. Laughter always does.

We turned to watch the snow swirling around the window with a smile on our faces.

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Melissa writes at Peace & Projects, where you can get her new ebook: The Hybrid Homemaker: A Guide to Personal & Financial Freedom.

Photo by Kevin N. Murphy