Les Jours Tristes – Amelie PoulainSo, if you have not seen it yet (or again),
you must! Le Fabuleux Destin D’Amelie Poulin was a masterpiece starring Audrey
Tautou (one of my favorite actresses) about the irony of love and life. It’s
a jewel of a tale that I carry with me as a souvenir from my times living in
Paris, learning, teaching, living, traveling, and just, well, relaxing. I suppose
those memories are my therapy, until I can get away to the Maldives–or somewhere
equally exotic. As a cathartic gesture of magnanimity, I have therefore embedded
for you a track from arguably one of the best movies scores I’ve encountered.
If you listen to the lyrics, you’ll find a pitch perfect message about why it’s
never too late to change the scene and create a new story. Sometimes, you help
others in the process. I meet people everyday who, on the outside, seem to be
holding it together, but we discover after a few moments of dialog they haven’t
really been taking the time to do a little maintenance on the inside. That person
who is a pin prick from insanity could be your friend, relative, coworker, a
stranger…or you!

Take the time to cut them a break when you can…and speak words of encouragement
rather than complain about their pouting. Those very same words will return
to you one day when you least expect it. Take a breather! Stop rushing and worrying,
and remember that whatever you are dealing with is always temporary. Besides,
there is probably good news on the way if you’re thinking it can’t get any worse.
I’ve had to take this advice myself many times over, and I promise, if you continue
listening to the song, you’ll realize why it is one of my favorites. It invites
us to hope again, dismiss naysayers, and press repeat tomorrow morning. “Les
Jours Tristes”….rough translation= “Sad Days”. But what you should walk away
thinking after letting the catchy beat soak in is….ahhhh,

Happy Days! Helpful Tips:

(1) If you’re worried about your job, consider investigating or training for
a new specialty…perhaps even career. DIVERSIFY!

(2) Increase your income by working more hours or getting a second job

(3) If you dip into the retirement plan, know the rules. Sometimes there’s
a penalty, but sometimes…not. We like the latter. Talk to your financial advisor
and get the facts.

(4) According to history, sometimes unemployment rises even after the recession
is said to officially be over. Don’t get caught up in the headlines. Make your
own history

(5) Don’t give up on having fun! Perhaps instead of abandoning your trip to
paradise, you postpone it and take a class on middle eastern cuisine, or learning how
to speak French. Use this time to prepare you for when you can execute Plan
A.