When I put down my cup of coffee this morning, everything will go back into its place. A grey sky will be a sky of a Valentino-like color. A puddle will be a natural mirror for the stars. A mild headache, a gentle memory of G&Ts with friends last night. And spilt milk on the table, a sign of how blessed I am to have the children I have.

As I sip my cup of coffee this morning, I think of relativity, not in the scientific Einstein-like sense, but with a rush of shame for letting myself get lost in my own insignificant miseries, for not looking around at real troubles other people have, for forgetting to thank someone somewhere for the unbelievably long list of good things that are there to brighten up my day if I only raise my face towards them. And mostly, for letting myself forget that happiness is not my divine right but something I need to work to cherish and seek out.

As I put down my cup of coffee this morning, I realize, troubles in life exist because they are part of any and all life, they are the night to the day, the George to the Jerry, the clouds without which we wouldn’t even notice the silver lining…