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Great Expectations

Be prepared to accept great things today, by being open, warm, relaxed and positive.  There is nothing that's the end of the world, until it's the end of the world and then there's little you can do about that.  Honestly.  Never take things personally, even if they have your name on it.

It seems we go there to protect ourselves since we can easily say, "see I told you, it's the end of the world."

What's the alternative?  Your heart gets broken over and over again.  You think you've done your best and it's rewarded differently than you'd hoped.  You're "good" and you feel like you get back "bad."  You got to the final two for a position and the recruiter says, "we've decided to proceed with another candidate."  I've been there many times and started to feel like there was a conspiracy against me with worldwide collusion.  Often, it's a crazy thought multiplied too well by my very creative and vivid imagination.  Often, I've done nothing wrong at all.  And sometimes, I have.  I am human.  There's some miscommunication or I've indulged in my headstrong willfulness in doing things my way, instead of collaboratively.  I'm working on developing tools around these internal challenges.  Most important, I'm finding is to adjust my negative attitude when I notice it.

Moreover, it's been proven that what breaks and heals gets stronger.  So hope fully.  Dream big.  Start again when things get fouled by the weather or by someone getting the promotion you wanted.  Celebrate her success.  Imagine a greater capacity to love, to grieve, to be there for others, greater resilience in the face of life's darkest moments.  Is that worthwhile?  In fact, is that ultimately a life worth living?

And drop the negativity facade.  Life throws enough curveballs (today in New York: snowballs) on its own.  Be the warmth that melts the snow in your little corner of the world.  Get other to play and do snow angels after the shovelling and clearing the sidewalk and helping the little old lady cross the street.  Find the laughter and the fun in life and appreciate the cold whiteout since soon enough it'll be hot and dark.

Life's about the wonderful contrasts: sadness, happiness, feeling like a loser, like the king/queen of the world.  Enjoy the rollercoaster.

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