As myself and many others have started saying in my area where jobs are sometimes difficult to come by and do not necessarily last long is that “as long as you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food on the table” then things are not so bad. And even without those things it really could always be worse. Look at “The Pursuit of Happyness” or many other countries in need and you will see that. Perspective really is key!

take a few moments and listen to your inner self. listening is my key
to learning.

how ’bout you find somthing else to worry about? there are people out there that have REAL problems! be thankful you’re alive (and hopefully) have your health. yes,it’s quartz,but come on….you’re sweating a geen countertop/?!?!~

I agree with “your name”. if this is the worst of your problems you are sooo lucky. Jeez–a quartz countertop when some people do not have food or a house or are being torture, raped. You are so privileged.

I live by the idea that if you can do something about it, do it; if you can’t, don’t stress.
Stress is not only mentally and spiritually bad for us but physically as well. Blood pressure, immune system, breathing, muscle tension, and more are all affected in a negative way when we worry and get tense or angry.
Ask if it’s worth your health, and ask, “What can I do about it right now?” and either do it confidently, or relax.
Also, being the creative type, I’d be thinking of other cool things I could make with any salvageable counter top pieces – a small end table top on an old ugly little thing, a little walkway or standing area outside, etc.

I think laughing about the things we can’t control does make many frustrations less annoying. A good attitude to teach our kids!

The meaning of life is so much deeper than anything we can physically touch.

The only thing I can say about this is(EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON)you may never know or it could be years when you figure it out,Lets just say worrying is a sin smile be HAPPY.

Whah whah, somebody dinged my $100,000 Maserati. I understand the message the author is trying to convey, but maybe she could find a more relevant example of “rolling with the punches”. Tell me 4 ways to roll with the punches after I lose my house and have to declare bankruptcy because if I don’t find a job soon, that advice may come in handy.

Trade you. My husband passed away unexpectedly on February 28. Everyday is a struggle. The grief is paralyzing. Death has no plan B.Your shattered countertop serves as a symbol for the life of many a widow.

How about the contractor, whose fault this is, putting a wooden countertop into place as a patch, and finishing the job and then coming back and installing the countertop when its ready? I’m stunned that he didn’t offer a stop-gap to get you back into the kitchen on schedule.
You can laugh about it, and be nice, but really, this is a matter of keeping promises, you would keep yours, and you would have the integrity to help the person out, expect that from others, also.

My favorite saying is: “If you think God doesn’t have a sense of humor, just try making plans”. SO…if it’s God’s laughter when it happens, who are we not to laught along!!!

Don’t worry! Be Happy……

Apparently some comments here were made by people who think that their problems are made better by pointing out that they are worse than others’? That seems rather negative and, honestly, self-defeating. If your problems are not made better by these suggestions, which can be applied in varying levels to any problem, then it really would be better to not try and bring down the entire reading public with your negative energy. I don’t directly relate to the kitchen remodel and green quartz counter either, but I found it very symbolic (as another poster mentioned) and related it to my life in areas where it worked. Negative attracts negative (as in “misery loves company”). Even in the darkest of times we can be positive if we choose to. We’ve all heard stories about the single mom and her kids living in their car, etc. – but it’s the story of the positive mother who instilled good things from her heart to her children that we hear in success stories later on. No one hears about the mom who gave in and b*tched incessantly, became self-absorbed in her own problems and failed to encourage her children…because there is not usually a good story to tell.
I hope and pray that all of your troubles turn to joys.

ACCEPTANCE
So many things that I am confronted with require me to practice acceptance. If I can’t change it,they or them, I CAN change the way that I respond to the situation. When I ask myself how important it really is, I usually see that it’s ranking on my list of truely important things is quite low. Serious health issues are important, I can’t deny them nor should I procratinate in seeking a solution. Relationships are usually important. Then, went I place a light of reflection on each of them, I realize that I can’t control those either. I can control my interest,attitude and efforts towards them but real control remains ellusive. Each individual in a relationship will do as they see fit, sometimes guided and sometimes misguided. All that I can truely control is my attempts towards understanding, compassion, acceptance and when need be, forgiveness. Beyond that, things seem to work out when the time has come for them to work out,wheather it be my timetable or not.

I really like the suggestions you offered. I think by doing those things,even if you have to force them sometimes they help put things in perspective. It helps me if I can do that. I have to realize I have my health, a roof over my head etc. I have also been practicing some Buddhist principles of accepting whatever emotions I have and not judging my emotions. I have recently lost my job and I occasionally go into panic mode. It is an extremely uncomfortable feeling – but it is just that a feeling based on what I am thinking. So I contemplate exactly where it is coming from for a couple of minutes, decide if there is anything I need to do right now and if not I take a deep breathe and move on.

Quit yer bit**en and thank God yer still takin’ air lady!

Hi y’all, Holly’s co-blogger here. I am so glad so many of you have posted–and mostly with tact and honesty and heart. We really love interacting with you guys. I guess I just gotta defend my homegirl, though, when I see comments like “jp”‘s–echoed a couple of times in less harsh ways. Please, before hurling your bile, make sure you know of what you speak. And then, maybe, take that bile and don’t hurl it in hurtful, not-constructive ways. We love that you’re reading and as always welcome comments–all of them, even those that challenge or contradict us. That keeps things lively and open. But if you’re going to throw sand, please stop or go to another playground. Thanks.

Thank you Valerie for re-setting the tone. Sometimes immature understanding will surface. The experiences regarding ‘how to roll with the punches’ whether it’s 4, more or less is vital.

I opened this article hoping for some help in coping with life’s real punches, and I find a featured article devoted to the horrendous crisis of living without your apple green countertop for 2 more months. Get real.

I like your suggestions. I would also add, switch to plan B or even a plan C because sometimes that works out better than plan A.

I think this is excellent advice for the current economic year we are in. I find that each day I get up I wonder why I am doing that and each time I think I will get ahead I find myself a little bit less behind by struggling.
This is in no way the worst situation but doesn’t the situation and its severity really depend on the person. Do not worry, you can’t please all of the people all of the time, a counter top may be the end of the planet for you but not another. That is just how life is.
When I read your post I pictured myself having trouble like the counter top and thanked god I had my kitchen counter tops in place. Living outside the norm in my home is a very big deal to me so while you found it some what irritating, I would have been so upset I might have taken a couple weeks off work until I could get things in order. I can’t go to work if the laundry isn’t done

I read you blog on”4 Ways to Roll with the Punches”,and i agree with your 4 strategies.And i will make that all in my life and also told to friends to explain this and use it in their life.
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