Are you living an “either/or” kind of life? Or “both/and”?

After decades of working with troubled teens and their families, I’m convinced that life is rarely an either/or thing. It’s rarely easy or difficult, fun or challenging. It’s always both at the same time. The trick is to keep the good and bad in their proper perspective. Too often, we allow the painful situations to overshadow the good times.

So don’t let your short-term struggles eclipse reality. Remember, challenging issues are just a normal part of everyday life, and tough times won’t last forever.

Be on the lookout for things to enjoy and reasons to laugh. When you learn to smile, even when you have reasons to wince, you’re choosing to live a “both/and” kind of life. And that’s a far better choice!

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