Ah, the week from hell. Did you ever wake-up and realize that you are living a life of clichés? For those that don’t know a cliché is, Webster’s defines it as:

A trite expression, often a figure of speech whose effectiveness has been worn out through overuse and excessive familiarity.

Cliché #1 - When it rains it pours
Saturday starts with a trip to the ER because I can’t stop coughing, was diagnosed with a viral infection, got to the 24hour Walgreens, but the technician on duty went home sick and they can’t fill prescriptions until later. It’s literally pouring rain outside and I look out and the sprinklers on the front lawn are running, while the neighbor is writing the infraction down in her notebook. All I want to do is lie down, but when I get into the bed the dogs have brought in their favorite toys from the backyard, which are wet and covered with mud and they are playing with them under my sheets.

Cliché #2 - People in Glass Houses Shouldn’t Throw Stones or That’s the Kettle calling the Pot Black
My job entails dispensing advice and guidance to people on a regular basis. Sometimes the lines between personal and work life blur and people seek out my help on a number of issues. I am well known for telling people to take care of themselves, how important their health and welfare is above all else, etc. My yearly check-up this week included the news that everything was too high - weight, blood pressure, cholesterol - and even though my life resembles an HBO sitcom, I’m advised that I have to take care of myself.
Hypocrisy is extremely enlightening and powerful. Time to get back on the treadmill and get rid of the Coke.

Cliché #3 - It’s Just a Midlife Crisis
Nope - the divorce papers came in the mail today and it isn’t just a new car or new girlfriend that my ex-husband is looking for. It’s a new life. I guess that’s why my ipod is filled with break-up songs that I sing at the top of my lungs. Not to recite another cliché but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I was also reminded by a very smart woman (known around here as Alex) that I will look back and be grateful and realize that everything that has happened has made me into the person I am today. Not quite there yet, but am feeling like I am on that path.

Cliché #4 - The Acorn Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree
Today I listened to my 13-year old daughter explain to me that she wants to live with her father full-time because I am mean and rude and send her to her room and he doesn’t. Hmmm, am I the only adult here? The look on her face is one that I know well, and I know where she got it from. It took every ounce of strength I had to not get angry and understand that she is hurting as well. I need to think of her well-being right now, and if that means not trashing her father, and letting her spend more time with him, that’s what I will do. It’s not easy being an adult.

Cliché #5 - When the Going gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
For the first time in my life I finally, truly understand this and have made it my new mantra. For every crappy thing that happened this week, there were at least if not more positive things that happened as well. Why do I focus on only the negative? Why does anyone? Because it is easier - it actually takes more effort to be positive. Now don’t get me wrong - I spent hours crying (and singing break-up songs), but once I did that, I began to really think things through and started to formulate a plan.

Just doing that, coming up with actionable items that would start me working on my clichéd life, to improve it, made a huge difference. Inaction is debilitating in so many ways. What else did I do? I donated money to the local pet shelter, took my dogs for a walk, and signed up to be a Big Sister. On my way out now to buy gifts for my godchildren that I will surprise them with tomorrow.

I think I have turned that frown upside down!!!!