A chance to put things in perspective

STEVE SMITH

Two weeks ago there was a small, inadvertent omission from this

column that has relevance today, New Year’s Day.

The idea, 14 days ago, was to help readers place personal events

on a sliding scale to help determine just how important they really

are.

That determination usually leads to a lower level of stress and a

happier life as one arrives at the realization that most of what we

get upset about is not worth a moment of our time.

At the low end of the scale, number one, is that you have lost a

penny down a hole and will never get it back.

At the opposite end, number ten, the Earth will explode in 10

minutes.

In between are assorted inconveniences and catastrophes but it’s

not necessary to list them for today’s purpose.

Today’s purpose is to help you create some perspective that may

make 2005 a little less stressful than 2004 may have been.

Last Thursday, I was getting ready to lead a meeting at a local

hotel. As I gathered up my presentation materials, I stuck two

permanent markers in the left front pocket of my pants. When I went

to retrieve them, I discovered that one had leaked and left dime-size

stain. I may not be able to remove it.

Fifteen minutes later, I attempted to open a gym bag I have been

using to transport my change of clothes for the physical therapy I

have been undergoing for several weeks.

I tugged on the zipper and it broke off in my hand. The bag had

not opened and I had to wedge a pen in the teeth of the zipper to

reach the contents.

For many people, these two incidents, coming so close together,

would have been enough to ruin their day. And while I was not happy

about the prospect of losing a good pair of pants, I quickly thought

of the priority scale. The leaky marker was a two, as was the zipper.

Both of them were not worth getting upset over, not even for a

moment.

The quick rating decision was made much easier by the tsunami

survivors in India, Sri Lanka and other areas. Compared to their

troubles, my stain and zipper were minus tens.

I’ve spent most of the year either recovering from knee surgery or

in physical therapy for injuries to my shoulder and my knee. Now, I’m

pretty sure I have tendinitis in my right elbow.

On the priority scale, my surgery was about a six, mostly because

of the anesthesia.

The “tendinitis”, if that’s what it is, is about a three or four.

Now it’s your turn. Read the following events and rate in your

mind where they fall on your scale of priorities. Remember, a one on

the scale is that you have dropped a penny down a hole, and a ten is

that the Earth will explode in 10 minutes:

1: You have been cut off on the freeway. No damage to you or your

car.

2: You just plain forgot to pay your phone bill and you have to

use your lunch hour to reconcile your account.

3: You work in a place with a coffee pot in the lunchroom. At 9

a.m. you go to get coffee and realize that the pot is empty and the

person who took the last cup did not make a fresh batch.

4: Your neighbor’s sprinklers have just sprayed your car, which

was washed the day before.

5: Starbucks is out of the little cardboard sleeves that cover the

middle of their coffee cups.

6: You have given your dog an old, used sleeping bag which he

proceeds to rip to shreds and leave all over his dog run.

7: You have a headache.

You’re in a hurry to make it on time to the Performing Arts Center

for a show and you have missed a green light while driving.

What are your results? Here are mine: Not one of these events

rated higher than a two.

The best that I can wish for you for 2005 is that you slow down

and realize that one key to peace of mind is to let the little stuff

go. Most of the bad stuff that happens to you is little stuff.

You have not just lost everything and perhaps everyone in a

tsunami that struck without warning. Chances are good you’re in

reasonably good health. If not, you happen to be in a country with

the world’s best doctors.

You have a roof, enough clothing (probably more than enough), and

there is food on the table at night.

So, take it easy this year.

As some genius once said, “If you have a problem that can be

solved by writing a check, you don’t have a problem, you have an

expense.”

Happy New Year.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(714) 966-4664.