Choose your battles wisely

1) Choose your battles wisely
2) Find peace with the rest

Not everything in parenting, relationships, office politics or everyday life, is worth fighting about.

That doesn’t mean do nothing, or don’t care.

Think hard about the make-or-break issues for you - what items are non-negotiable? Communicate those things to the people around you and be clear and consistent with those boundaries.

For everything else, negotiate.

Talk with your kids or spouse or boss or coworkers.
Be creative about finding solutions that will create win-win outcomes.

Learn to accept realities sometimes (e.g. two year olds will not sit still for two hours, unless they’re sick) and find the way to work within that reality.

Because you can rant at the heavens when it rains - and get wet.
Or put up your umbrella and get on with your day...

(Originally published September 11, 2007)