I wish the whole world could see what I see.  Some times you have to go up really high to understand how small we really are.

-Felix Baumgartner, sky diver

Daily routines of yoga, hikes in the forest, brief meditation, and listening to podcasts of dharma talks help to keep me grounded and calm when adversity strikes.  Except, when it doesn’t.

This summer has been a doozy!  Full of stress from wildfire threatening our home since June 9 (we did have about a week off at the end of June before the next lightning storm).  Just when I need my daily practices most, I quickly abandon them and fall into a mess.  Why?

It’s easy to stay positive when life is good, but that too is impermanent…

Every human faces challenges. For some, it helps to remember you are not alone.  Someone else is also suffering. For others, comparing one’s own situation to those that are facing graver circumstances can be comforting (e.g. at least we aren’t living in a war zone, dying from cancer, homeless, etc.).

“Ahh, this too shall pass” has been my mantra this summer.

We were sent You Can’t Ruin My Day: 52 Wake-Up Calls to Turn Any Situation Around by Allen Klein.

You Can’t Ruin My Day contains 52 themes to help readers take back their power and not let other people or other situations ruin their day.

Each of these themes has three sections: Wake-Up Call (the potential day-ruiner); Follow-Up Exercise (practical steps to turn it around); and Lighten-Up Laugh (gaining a fresh perspective and moving right along).

Keep these tools in your arsenal of things to help you maneuver around roadblocks, setbacks, or upsets you might encounter on any given day.

Each of the 52 stories and wake-up calls in the book are amazing and inspiring. One couple lost almost all of their money to Bernie Madoff and his Ponzi scheme; instead of bitterness, they chose to learn from their mistake and move on. From getting a parking ticket to family squabbles to life-changers such as the loss of a job, Klein offers wisdom, good humor, and coping skills that improve the quality of life.

Techniques, as I mentioned before, such as “Putting it in Perspective” (Wake-Up Call #12) are included.   Yes, at least I don’t live in a war zone.

This book is full of common sense wisdom I have learned through yoga, mediation, long walks in the forest, and podcasts.  It is presented in a helpful manner with quotes, discussing, follow-up, and “lighten up”.  In fact, many of the lighten-up stories and quotes are ones I have heard in dharma talks.

Quotes from comedians to psychologists to writers to poets are found throughout the book.  I think they are my favorite part of this book, than again, I am a quote junky.

I will be using this book when I teach yoga.  It is perfect for the themes I weave into class.  When we move our bodies, we are more receptive to this knowledge.  I am thankful for this resource.

This book is useful for all humans, including teenagers. You might not be able to get them to read it, but you could use the info to help counsel them through the high school years.  That’s my plan.