An Old Saw

by Gail Balentine

I really, really want to eat M&Ms right now, a bagful.

It’s hard, trying to cope with some not-so-good-news. Actually, some bad news.

What to do?

M&Ms would taste good right now.

If I repeat the news over and over, will it make it less scary? Hasn’t worked so far.

M&Ms are my friends.

That old saw ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’, is it true?

If so, what’s the good thing here? How do I even find it?

What if I try asking: what good, no matter how small, comes out of this?

Actually, M&Ms are not really my friends. Yes, of course they taste wonderful, but then they stay firmly attached to my waistline – forever.

Yes, there is something small that’s good – I now know what was not seen before.

So, if I had not received this ‘bad news’, then I never would have noticed this ‘good thing’ about the situation. Right? Yes, that’s true.

Maybe the good doesn’t outweigh the bad, but thinking about everything from a different perspective brings up new options. Always good to have options.

M&Ms are great, but better eaten when a few are delightful and can be savored, then when I gulp them down in a frenzy.

Funny how those old sayings, often taken for granted, really were born of experience and hard-won wisdom.

Think I’ll save the M&Ms, mix in a few with nuts and raisins, and have them for a snack later - after I choose an option and follow through on it.

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