It’s happened to all of us. The cashier scanned an item twice, or we realize we were charged for something at a hotel or restaurant that we never asked for or never received. If we catch the overcharge in time, we can ask to have it reversed. But sometimes, we discover we’ve been shortchanged after it’s too late to do anything about it. Sometimes, we might even realize that we were actually scammed out of our hard-earned dollars. That feeling of being cheated, can leave us frustrated at best, and downright angry at worst.

I used to let myself get irritated and even enraged by these situations. But, now, rather than let that kind of loss impact my mood, I deal with it differently. We all make conscious choices about how we react to things. In this case I’ve decided it isn’t worth letting myself feel disappointed about losing a certain amount of money, either by mistake or deceit. And I begin by reminding myself that the loss of that money isn’t the end of the world.

To make this easier for me, at the beginning of the year I mentally allocate a fund for mistakes and related financial losses. It’s just like a budget for a vacation, (though the use is not quite as much fun). The amount you allocate, of course, will be in relation to the amount you can lose without incurring any actual hardship. (Someone who is living hand to mouth, probably can’t afford to allocate anything to a “lost money” fund, while someone who regularly treats themselves to expensive spa retreats can allocate more).

In my case, I allocate several thousand dollars. While I’m not actually spending the money, I am budgeting for my future peace of mind. This allows me to focus on more important things in my life, like my family and friends and the people I love.

The overall point of this exercise, of course, is to not let certain kinds of material loss overshadow our days. Save your feelings for things that really matter.

The past is always instructive for the future and I’ve found that, indeed, experience is the best teacher. So, if, in the past, you’ve found yourself “crying over spilt milk” focusing on your losses, why not take advantage of my experience and break out of that unhelpful pattern. Why not put things in a different perspective?  Life is always better when we spend our time appreciating the positive, the joy and beauty that comes our way.

Alan

As an employer, I used to hate holidays and weekends. After all, I was working at the office Saturdays and holidays, while paying other people in my office not to be there.

During the past half century my pattern has gradually changed. I haven’t worked on a Saturday or a holiday for years.  After all, isn’t that why I worked evenings, Saturday’s, and holidays for all those years?  So I wouldn’t have to do it now?

Which brings me to one of my favorite subjects, the idea of productivity. I have a need to be (or at least feel that I am being) productive. So, on my time off I read books because that is educational and entertaining. I also play solitaire on my iPhone. (I can rationalize almost anything).  After all, if I relax while playing solitaire, then I’ll perform better (and be more productive) after a little relaxation.

But there might be a small flaw in my reasoning. Yesterday I played solitaire all day. Rationalize as I might, I was not productive at all. (Although I was very, very relaxed).

Do you think I’m on to something?

Well, then maybe you’d like to conduct your own experiment and then write an essay about the best ways to be productive.

I’m going fishing.

Figuratively.

Alan

Last week I flew from Edinburgh back to Los Angeles. I still marvel at the fact that I can step onto an airplane in London, sleep a bit, then wake up in Los Angeles.  No long ocean crossing with dangerous storms to ride out. No crossing the prairie in a covered wagon pulled by oxen for months at a time.

Unfortunately, I didn’t travel alone, but in the company of a zillion or two microbes that hitched a ride inside my lungs.

I seldom take comfort in the travails of others, but I did smile when my pulmonologist just told me that he had traveled through London recently and came home with the same diagnosis: Bronchitis. He said that it’s not from the airplanes which have great filtration. It’s the airports that get you. (While I’d like to think that my pulmonologist is exempt from lung diseases, I suppose that’s about as absurd as my CPA not having to pay income tax).

And the Heathrow airport, which is the primary hub of both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and serves more than 84 million passengers a year, is a model of … what?  A modern shopping center that doubles as an auto parking lot and a security company with restaurants open 24 hours a day but seldom busy?

Question:  When does eleven hours seem like a very long time?  Try an airplane ride when you don’t feel like either reading or watching a video.  While it might be better than the slow train, the next time I think I’ll take a night flight.  At least then I can sleep.

I know that you don’t want to take any more pleasure from my discomfort.

So I’ll stop.

Alan