What’s the difference
between agonizing about insults,
dwelling on slights,
having a pity-party for the mess
you’ve been handed, the cards dealt…
and accepting it, denigrating it
in passing, learning a way to do it
after trying fifty-three that didn’t work?
What’s the difference between a scowl
and shaking your head, astounded by the crud?
Why should you remember that obnoxious song
and keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side…
with no pain when you go insane?
What’s the difference? The crap happens.
But if you laugh it off, learn from it, mark one
that doesn’t work in the search for one that does…
you’ll be happier, those around you will catch it
and maybe you’ll not feel so compelled

to fall back on the crutches that once held you
but you can hold them at bay…one smile,
one headshake, one joke at a time
and recover one day at a time.