After just making my morning iced coffee in a large plastic cup, I had set it on the corner of the kitchen table as I was bringing in Lupini from his tinkle. My arm knocked it over and 30 ounces of caramel-colored liquid and 82 ice cubes splashed E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.
Oh well.
I did not react - on purpose. I didn't cuss at the coffee. I didn't declare the day was wrecked. I didn't call myself a dunce. My world did not collapse. I simply retrieved a raggy towel from the garage, picked up all the ice cubes, and mopped the coffee.
I calmly made another iced coffee ... because OH WELL ... really the spillage was not a big deal. I was being mindful not to turn it into one.
Remember our mammas' motto as we grew up?
~ don't cry over spilled milk ~
These days, I am practicing the OH WELL method. When something doesn't go right, or as planned, or is askew, or spills, or gets muffed up or canceled, or someone is acting like a doodlehead ... OH WELL is my new go-to mantra.
Truthfully, snippeteers, It is much simpler than huffing and puffing all over the place like The Big Bad Wolf. Especially becoming agitated over the trivial junk.
Staying neutral and saying those two words aloud feels SO MUCH better than getting ruffled. I managed it differently, when normally I would have been spewing: "dammit ... stupid me ... stupid coffee ... what a waste ... now I need to make a new one ... I don't have time for this ... oh what a big mess across the kitchen floor!"
Nope - didn't "espresso" any of that. I murmured oh well and moved on.
Snippeteers, during the next occasion where you might react (or over-react) and throw a tiny tantrum, could you instead say these two simple words ... oh well ... and move on? Can you think of a recent situation when you could have managed the disturbance?
In hindsight, I should have used the new mantra yesterday during a phone call when I allowed myself to get defensive and a tad cussy over a house issue. I should have said OH WELL instead of allowing my curls to unravel during the conversation.
Oh well.
It's powerful. It's calmer. It works. Try it and let me know.
And if you don't email me to share about it ... oh well. :D