Frame: a structure that surrounds or encloses, that underlies or supports a system, concept, or text
Flexible: to be able to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances or conditions
Perspective: a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view
Frame of Mind: a particular mood that influences one’s attitude or behavior
Frame of Perspective: surrounding ones systems with a modifiable attitude (as defined by me)

Life can be dreadfully disgusting or blissfully beautiful. Life can also be severely spicy or sickeningly sweet. Most certainly, life is both at all times. Which version one choses to focus on is their choice. Life really is about framing your perspective.

Like when you need to use the air compressor for a job lined up and the pull starter cord breaks. On a Sunday. Instead of jumping up and down and yelling, be glad it is a simple fix and easy to repair. Or when the spray foam installers call to say they are delayed for three weeks. Take this new found time to play a game with the Kid, pet the toofy cat who after five years has decided cardboard boxes are the place to be, or simply enjoy the warm weather in February. Besides, there is plenty of odds and ends projects always sitting on the back burner needing to be completed. Refocus your frame of perspective.

Or when after the sheet rock has been installed only to realize the electrical outlet along the kitchen wall by the sink was missing a junction. Instead of getting frustrated at the time delay or the three steps back required to complete the job, be glad it was only sheetrock and is easily repaired. Was the job messy to fix. Yes. But it was fixable without any additional sheetrock needed as the space was just wide enough several drop sections were used. Focus on the easy fix now instead of the difficult fix if the final wall had been installed. It is really is about perspective.

When the water tank develops a crack or the cleaning of the tile grout disaster becomes to much, take a break to remind thyself there are good things happening, too. It is not all drama. Take time to remember the Planner who fell out of the inside of the water tank when inspecting the hole and then got tangled up in the forks. Or the “let’s photo bomb dad’s phone” moment after stealing his hat and sweater while enjoying your local favorite food joint. And finally, always remember if you need a endorphin fix, you can always borrow Peppa, the neighbors’ free roaming pig. I mean come on, who can be frustrated when there are pigs to pet? Pet perspective. Hmm….

Hatchets happen, I get it. There are those times when everything is just going so well. So perfect one can’t help but keep wondering when the hatchet is going to fall. It’s inevitable. In the big picture, those moments are not worth fussing about as they are just moments, really. They are not life long. A few days or weeks, yes. Months, hardly ever. Year long, never. Moments in time that won’t make a difference in five weeks, five months, or five years. Like watching a friends cats for a few days. These loving, always wanted to be petted beasts. So warm and friendly, unlike your own toofy, don’t touch me cat. Until they’re not because underneath their friendly fur all cats are evil. Once the injustice has passed this will forever be a laughable moment. It is really is about perspective.

Are somethings more demanding of effort to change the perspective. Yes, especially those moments that happen at the most importune times. Those moments that seem to happen with frequency for no reason at all. The chicken door rotting out at the hinge, again, when attempting to close for the night at dark. The water pump breaking and loosing several hundred gallons of water, again. Replace the door and remind yourself it really is only the second time as the third time was because the wild pack of dogs broke it. Replace the pump and remind yourself this product is not designed to sit outside in the exposed elements day in day out with salty air and scorching temperatures. Be glad the chicken doors is just 2x4s and be fixed tomorrow and the pump can be ordered and delivered in two days. Be glad there is salty air and warm temperatures otherwise there wouldn’t sailing days. Every Tuesday from April through October. It is really is about perspective.

Perspective is not viewed the same. I get that. When those who don’t understand why boxes, or why laminate, or why this and that and the other just remind yourself of the sneetches. You say potato, I say potato. This thing being done is for you, not them. If vibrant green cabinets and retro flower curtains in the bathroom make you happy then do it. If attending an art display with erasable lasers on a brick wall is not art because it doesn’t last, then what is art? Art is in the eye of the beholder and no two people really ever see one piece of art the same. Just like your perspective.

Options are perspective. When the county finally decides the twenty individual families on this one single street corner are worthy of city water don’t be angry the driveway was ripped up and not fixed correctly. Be glad there is the option to have city water installed for only $4000 instead of $60K any time it is desired. Unlimited water, as much as can be in modern environmental drought conditions will allow, is less than 150 feet away. Knowing this option is available is worthy of my focus to ignore the now needed to be fixed ditch in the driveway. It is really is about perspective.

Nature always provides a great perspectives. I have said it before and I will say it again. Nature does not give a damn especially about human problems. Hurricane Harvey rolled through took out every single leaf from every single tree that remained standing after 100+ mph winds for hours on end. Stormed passed and nature did its thing. Trees grew back new leaves in the dead heat of summer (who knew they could even accomplish this), chickens continued to lay their eggs, and life just went on. Nature didn’t cry over lost whatnots. During the middle of an easy go month when it seemed so many projects were finally lining up for completion to see 50-60 hummingbirds on one single day reminds me the view can always be better. It is really is about perspective.

The world is larger than you. Remember that always. You are so small the world doesn’t care. This thought can be both profound and detrimental. Stick with the profound not the detrimental. Use the vastness of the world to put a positive perspective on your minuscule problems. Look at the sky for its longevity or to the ocean (in our case the bay) for connectivity. People thousands and thousands of years before us and after us will have both the sky and the ocean. Everything in between is mute. Be glad you can enjoy these with your family and friends during the middle of the day during the middle of a week when so many others are stuck behind a desk. It is really is about perspective.

Small moments. No dying person has ever said they wished they worked harder. Instead they wish for the small moments. Inconsequential moments seeming meaningless at the time. Affected moments not realized for years to come. Embarrassing moments that were everyday life. So when the water tank decides to sprout another leak, focus on the fact this tank was backup, not critical. Focus on the fact it can leak without ill effect while the family goes on the camping in none freezing temperatures for once. Focus on the leak instead of this said family making faces on your face. It is really is about perspective.

And finally when anger gets the best of you while working on the Kid Box instead of the Dwelling and smash the ever living crap out of the fragile, ever exposed pinky, be glad the finger split on either the side instead of breaking. Karma? Maybe. Be grateful while cussing a blue streak inside your head you managed to stay calm to prove to the Kid anger management is a real thing so that you could calmly call for assistance. Be glad the Kid is still a silly little kid enough to fetch you a flower. A flower in December. non the less. Be glad the cat decided to be at that very moment a cat and happily let you rub on her head. Be glad the Planner decided dinner would be your favorite food joint and then offer his heart. Sure he promptly ate his heart but still. Life really is about perspective. It’s the only life so make it good a perspective.