Did you ever hear the old joke: “What is the difference between good weather and bad weather?” This popped into  my mind as recently our weather has been quite variable, with lots of rain, snow and only a few teasing rays of sun. Add to this the reduced daylight hours and all of a sudden it’s been hard to get outside.

So what is the difference between good weather and bad weather? The answer to this question, and the joke, is “more appropriate clothing”. Well yes that makes sense, layer up and adjust the outer wear. When the clothing adjustments are made, immediately the weather really does not matter. But I think there is another type of adjustment required.

An attitude adjustment to categorizing weather as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ may be just as important. There is nothing we can do about the weather. It is what it is. So adopting a more neutral approach to the weather while accepting the responsibility for our attitude towards one of the things we cannot change would seem like the natural thing to do.

But naturally, I know this is easier said than done because many people love to complain about the weather and often they complain just as much about the many other things they cannot change. Substitute weather for; traffic, kids, neighbours, bosses, partners, government … the list could be endless. Realistically, they way we cope often comes down to a choice. We get to choose what “attitudes” to “put on” when dealing with the weather and those other, often irritating, situations.

So how do you ‘weather’ the things in your life you cannot change?