Let the small stuff slide

There’s a book with a great title, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. It has been recommended to me by family and good friends on separate occasions. The hard part is applying the title: actually not sweating the small stuff. It means letting the bit of discomfort roll off you, when it, unchecked, would drive you to overreact. It means being mindful of experiences like a misunderstanding which feels like a minor indignity, or even your mind stating (screaming!) that you are being insulted or disrespected, and catching them before they escalate into a moment of anger, pain, and regret. Oh, there is so much small stuff—and big stuff, though the author suggests that, “It’s all small stuff”—someone disappoints you, a friend breaks a promise, or you make a recoverable mistake—that you not only need to not sweat, but also let slide. Actually dollars are often involved. Let them win. Let the small bit of money go. Let them have a bit of fun at your expense. In practice, after a few moments, you…