How do we invest in our well-being, and what are the returns to us and to our families? How can we find more joy in living, even though we experience the difficulty of unexpected changes. Some changes are positive and life enhancing, and others are horribly unsettling and painful, like the sudden loss of a loved one, or friend. Our wins and losses inform our own responses to life. The ups and downs can shake us, yet guide and lead us to make new decisions, set new personal goals, and evaluate how we are doing.
A friend of mine used to say, “what can I learn from this?” whenever she experienced an unplanned change. We think of the German phrase, “Man tracht un-Gott lacht” Man plans and Gd laughs. The random nature of events has challenged and perplexed us since the dawn of humanity. We strive for reason and order in our lives, and chaos brings confusion, discomfort and sometimes anger. “Life giveth and taketh.” How can we stand strong?
