Every now and then you may find yourself being wronged in a way that nine out of ten shoppers walking out of Costco would agree was heavily unfavorable to you - and you aren't quite sure what to do with your anger and frustration. Examples: your spouse decides he is tired of being an adult, leaves his job, and starts having an affair with a younger woman; the "all chrome, nothing under the hood" colleague takes all the credit for your hard work and leapfrogs you on the org chart; you receive a rejection letter from your dream college while a classmate is admitted due to family ties or a timely financial donation. The next time you find yourself in a similarly bad place, try this three-step coping mechanism on for size. First, accept the fact that life isn't fair. If life were fair, you wouldn't have access to the Internet, clean drinking water, or toilet paper. Second, take your philandering spouse's picture or college rejection letter and stick it in a manila file folder labeled "Don't let the turkeys get you down." This is a concrete way to lump and label some of your most painful life experiences into one manageable place that can be tucked away in a drawer. Third, celebrate the people who call or write with words of encouragement during your turkey times. They are some of the most thoughtful and precious friends you will every have in your life.
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