My Current Opinion by Guy Spiro.

"One door closes and another door opens" is one of those sayings that can seem of little consolation when we are feeling screwed out of something that we wanted. This is especially true when the object of our thwarted desire is something that we thought we were entitled to, or that we already had. Negative emotions generally follow. Whether anger, sadness or depression is one's petulant response of choice, all too often that response is worse than the perceived loss. We cannot always control what occurs in the outer world but we always have responsibility for our reactions . . . and as we know by now, those negative feelings magnetize and attract more of the same.

I used to be much more of an aggressive driver and I would sometimes become quite annoyed when stuck behind someone going the speed limit, or even slower, in the fast lane. But over the years I noticed a pattern. Oftentimes when I would find myself frustrated in that situation, I would shortly see a good reason to be going the limit: around the next bend would be a cop with a radar gun. Irritation then gives way to gratitude. Arriving just a little later or just a little earlier can make all the difference in many situations and we cannot always see how a delay has helped us without the wisdom of hindsight. I can think of many other instances to be grateful that I did not get what I thought I wanted.

Most often we lack the perspective to see how something we don't like is bringing a greater good. Sometimes it is very difficult to grasp the benefit of the suffering that we find ourselves in. But there is always something to be learned, something just out of sight that we want or need, something right following whatever it is that seems so wrong. People will often cling for dear life to a relationship or a job or some other situation that no longer works for them. But because every yes is a no, we cannot have the new relationship, job or other situation until we let go of the one we have. The desire to avoid pain in these instances actually creates more pain and precludes the joy that will follow the transition. The older I get, the more I see that there is always a reason, comprehensible or not, for all of the perceived unpleasantness that we experience.

When the gathered philosophers came out with their one true saying, "This too shall pass," they touched the essence of the Buddhist teaching of Impermanence. In this ephemeral world, change is the only constant -- and when one door closes, another does open.

We need to joyfully step through it.

	One Door Closes "One door closes and another door opens" is one of those sayings that can seem of little consolation when we are feeling screwed out of something that we wanted. This is especially true when the object of our thwarted desire is something that we thought we were entitled to, or that we already had. Negative emotions generally follow. Whether anger, sadness or depression is one's petulant response of choice, all too often that response is worse than the perceived loss. We cannot always control what occurs in the outer world but we always have responsibility for our reactions . . . and as we know by now, those negative feelings magnetize and attract more of the same. I used to be much more of an aggressive driver and I would sometimes become quite annoyed when stuck behind someone going the speed limit, or even slower, in the fast lane. But over the years I noticed a pattern. Oftentimes when I would find myself frustrated in that situation, I would shortly see a good reason to be going the limit: around the next bend would be a cop with a radar gun. Irritation then gives way to gratitude. Arriving just a little later or just a little earlier can make all the difference in many situations and we cannot always see how a delay has helped us without the wisdom of hindsight. I can think of many other instances to be grateful that I did not get what I thought I wanted. Most often we lack the perspective to see how something we don't like is bringing a greater good. Sometimes it is very difficult to grasp the benefit of the suffering that we find ourselves in. But there is always something to be learned, something just out of sight that we want or need, something right following whatever it is that seems so wrong. People will often cling for dear life to a relationship or a job or some other situation that no longer works for them. But because every yes is a no, we cannot have the new relationship, job or other situation until we let go of the one we have. The desire to avoid pain in these instances actually creates more pain and precludes the joy that will follow the transition. The older I get, the more I see that there is always a reason, comprehensible or not, for all of the perceived unpleasantness that we experience. When the gathered philosophers came out with their one true saying, "This too shall pass," they touched the essence of the Buddhist teaching of Impermanence. In this ephemeral world, change is the only constant -- and when one door closes, another does open. We need to joyfully step through it.