#10 - Don't sweat the small stuff

The Top 10 Things I've Learned in My 50 years on this planet...

# 10 - Don't sweat the small stuff

 

I never promised you that the top 10 things I've learned would be profound or deep or brilliant.  All I ever said was that they would be the things I've learned.  And this happens to be # 10.  And I'm still definitely learning it.

The trick to this one is knowing what is small.  For example, when working on a software project at work with lots of "small" pieces of master data that add up to TONS of master data, each of those data pieces are not actually small, especially when combined with the whole.  So ya gotta sweat that stuff.  It matters.

Or when tipping a waitress and you realize later that you didn't calculate it right - you tipped her too little - so you call back later to have it rectified.  My friend did that one time on a business trip and shocked the manager the next day.  But that isn't small stuff.  It matters.

Or when making a gift for someone and you take the time to get the details right.  That isn't small stuff.  It matters.

Or when picking up just a hint that you've hurt someone's feelings so you take a moment to check with them and make it right.  That isn't small stuff.  It matters.

But life is definitely full of small stuff.  Like when I get cut off on the road.  If I am still alive and healthy enough to be ticked off by it, then it's small stuff.  Don't sweat it.  It doesn't matter.

Or when someone has "offended" me by what they've said or how they said it.  If I'm really hurt, I'll know it, and I'll take it to that person to reconcile.  Otherwise, it's small stuff.  It doesn't matter.  (This is one I'm still learning....)

Or when your kid wants to die her hair pink.  Or when your kid only wants to eat white foods.  Or when your kid wants to sleep on blankets but not sheets.  Or when the dishwasher isn't loaded exactly right.  Or when the laundry isn't folded yet and dinner isn't ready but the baby is nursing and wants your full attention. 

The list goes on and on.  It's the stuff of life.  But much of it is small stuff.  The trick is just knowing what is small and what isn't.  And learning not to sweat the small stuff.