When it rains... (attitude adjustment in circumstances)

[BigBear]

So, I've reached the bend. I always rant and rave and let things get under my skin even when I have no control over them. After having a health scare (or two) with stress levels, I've been working really hard on changing my outwards attitude. I think I finally reached a bend in the road... Yesterday morning around 5:30 a.m. my car decided to throw a rod (unknown low oil, no warning lights, etc). In the past, I would've sat there in the car and let the world know what I thought using every expletive known to man and probably some that I've made up, probably beat my hands against the steering wheel, get all riled up and want to kill someone/something, etc.

Well, yesterday my car threw a rod. I calmly call work to let them know I won't be in and need a sub for the day, I calmly call my insurance, I calmly the tow truck, I calmly call the mechanic, I calmly call my wife. I calmly wait for tow truck and wife. I calmly go to mechanic and calmly explain situation. Bottom line, car is dead. I calmly accept the fate. At this point, a new engine would exceed the cost of the car. I just bought a house and therefore truly have NO money to repair the car as we pretty much emptied the savings on the down payment for the house. Anyways, I calmly sit down and calmly think. Then, I calmly get in the wives car and we calmly go to an auto dealer. I calmly explain my situation and ask for options. Not sure how we were able to afford it, but the wife has amazing credit. So, I end up leaving in a used (but very good condition) compact car. I am now a member of the granola family (Honda Fit) and I am calmly taking any criticism for it. I am a major commuter and this morning I was at 37 MPG....

That is all... Breath in, breath out.

"I dun did good". Chest feeling good. No more Mr. WorryWart. First World problems...

*golf clap*

Carry on.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

. I always rant and rave and let things get under my skin even when I have no control over them.

Trying to just let go of the things you can't control was advice I was reminded of myself yesterday. It is worth thinking about.
Sorry about the circumstances.

[hurley842002]

Sorry to hear about your car, I've been there a couple times. Upside is you will likely live longer for remaining calm.

[hurley842002]

Oh, and you are getting 20MPG more than me lol

[StagLefty]

Ya did good Bear ! I struggled with the same thing for years. If it's beyond your control so be it.

[cstone]

Granola isn't bad

I will be praying for you. One day at a time. Sometimes it is just one second followed by the next. Fall off, get on, fall off, get on...

Be safe.

[newracer]

I am surprised you fit in it.

Good for you for trying to not worry about what you cannot control, stress is a killer.

[wctriumph]

Rule No. One: Don't sweat the little things.

Rule No. Two: Everything is a little thing.

Good luck on the attitude change. I stopped worrying about every little thing and I lost most of my gray hair, turned brown again and, I lost weight too.

[sniper7]

Sorry to hear about the car, more money will come, things will get better! And the MPG will help save you some money as well.

[Artema]

I've been through that. My wife's "new to us" Volvo S40 blew its engine around the 5 and a half month mark. I was working on financing the engine replacement around the 6 month mark when the f#$%er at Lompoc Honda that sold it to us sent me an email asking reminding me to bring it in for maintenance. It was already sitting in the back without an engine. Lot of other stresses at that time, and I haven't completely recovered from the nearly $6k price tag on the engine swap even though it was a few years ago.