By Vannique
"To every action there's a reaction." "For every cause there is an effect." So let's say your kids are running through the house; this is the action or cause. While disobeying your rule :"No playing in the house cause you could break something you or me can't afford, fix or replace!" (This includes their necks. ) The kiddos ignore you; and the effect: Knock over your brand new, big screen, hi-def, wi-fi, smart TV with 3D capacity. (I think those exist?) Of course, you opted out of the insurance/replacement plan because of the manufacturers warranty, and when you purchased the TV 10 days ago they said you could add it in 30 days if you changed your mind.
At the register you thought to yourself "I should probably buy this for an additional $300" then you remember "schools starting and I've got other things to buy we actually need.... Nothing is gonna happen to it" As you recall this fiduciary and mental transaction, during the slow motion run toward the television that has hit the floor in pieces faster than you ever thought possible, You remember something else you learned long ago that you wished you would've recalled at the register: Murphy's Law: Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
So what now? What's your reaction? Some of you are just in tears unable to function (Its almost football season! Now how are you gonna see the NY Giants get the 5th ring for 2015? GO BIG BLUE!!) Some of you are thinking of how best to punish the children. Yet and still others of you are searching for a solution to the current situation. You're in correct the crisis mode. Analyzing, prioritizing, rationalizing, reasoning. This group realizes the meaning of the idiom: No use of crying over spilled milk.
Its not that the issue is small. . The point of the idiom, from Vanniques view, is to be solution oriented. Clean up the milk before it soaks into your carpet and smells of mold and spoiled milk. (More Problems!) Before the milk sets too long on your hardwood floors and ruins the finish! (More Problems!) Before a visitor slips in the milk and sues your pants off.(More Problems!) See my point here? By not being solution oriented then the one problem just expands to more problems. Not fun, trust me.
I firmly believe to every problem there is a solution. Though the solution may not be ideal. Though it may be progressive rather than immediate, therefore requiring patience which for some is difficult to develop; still there is a solution. What if you've run into something seeming to be a problem that appears to have not a solution. There could be a few reasons why.
1.) You've declined the solution:
You have an answer but it's not ideal. It does nothing for your fancy. It eats at your pride (which can sometimes be treacherous.) Although it resolves the issue it's not to your liking. So you reject it.
2.)That you've not exhausted all your options or possibilities:
Sometimes we get a one track mind to our problem and only see one way out. This way of thinking can be an impediment to a solution. Thinking fast, or fast-tracking to your solution is fine, and sometimes necessary. But at times there is not an obvious solution or a fast track and you've got to think outside of the box. "There is more than one way to skin a cat"....or so I've been told.
Last but not least; a reason to be reckoned with.
3.) It's not a problem at all; it's an Absolute:
Meaning there is no "solution". Its the way it is, nothing can change it. I'm not quick to put things in the absolute category because it can create a defeatist attitude, becoming a catch-all to every problem that arises. Its important to be able to recognize the difference. With that said though this must be said: Absolutes do exist. If there wasn't there would be no "Serenity Prayer." Even with absolutes there are still options: Accept it is one option. Or reject it completely. This meaning dismiss it, never to be revisited again. I'm not quick to do the latter either. If you're quickly dismissive you may overlook something.
I feel all problems and absolutes bare scrutiny and analysis, to decide which they are and which road to take. Scrutiny and analysis mean nothing though, if it's not in a solution oriented manner. So when facing a problem remember these idioms:
"Every cause has and effect."
"For every action there is a reaction."
"Don't cry over spilled milk."
"For every problem there is a solution."
"There's more than one way to skin a cat."
And
"Some things are absolute."
