Making Lemonade

It's not always easy to put on a smile when life becomes sour.

A recent situation my eldest son faced this week made this lesson very clear to us.  It's difficult, even under the best of circumstances, to remain consistently optimistic, and when you're 22 and trying to take huge steps into the uncharted waters of adulthood, it's natural to become apprehensive.  However, when life just kicks you straight in the teeth, what then?

The first, most natural response, of course, is to become angry.  He's angry, my husband is angry, I'm angry. But anger doesn't get you very far.  In fact, anger is often counterproductive.  But, it's a real, visceral response to betrayal, especially when you've been wronged and can do nothing about the situation except let it happen. The result is a feeling of powerlessness.

Letting go of the anger, now that's powerful.  In letting go of the anger, you actually take control of the situation because, while you can't control the situation itself, you can control how you respond to the situation. You cease being acted upon and become the agent of action.  You are no longer the victim, but emerge from the situation wiser, perhaps a little more cautious, and certainly better prepared to make lemonade the next time life hands you a bushel of lemons.

But, try telling that to a 22-year-old.