Pick Your Battles

It was a bright summer’s day and Bob was facing a dilemma. On the one hand, he was very happy lying on the sill of the open window as the sun streamed into our living room. On the other he was irritated by the bees that had been attracted to the flowers at the top of the garden near the window. He wanted them to buzz off.

For a few moments, I watched him weighing up his options. He was clearly asking himself: ‘Can I get them?’

If it had been inside the house, it would have been a different story. But it was clear it would take a precision strike to leap through the window out on to the flower bed and to catch the bees. It was almost impossible, a million to one shot, but he kept mulling it over. Along with something else.

The other thing that was annoying him was a box of tissues on the sill. He’d parked himself tight up against it and was clearly unhappy that it was there. The sun was shining at its brightest in that exact spot.

It took him a minute or so to complete his calculations. As he did so, he looked back and forth between the bees outside and the box of tissue next to him. What to do?

When he made his move, it was decisive. In a smooth movement, he swished at the tissue box with his paw, flipping it off the sill on to the floor so that he now had the best spot. He then proceeded to splay himself out on the sill, soaking up the sunshine. The bees were forgotten.

It was an object lesson. If you are faced with a problem that you can do something about – then do something. But if you can’t do anything – let it go.

Focus on what you can change. Forget about what you cannot. Life will be much simpler and enjoyable if you do.