Fortune Cookie Say: Change Your Mind

Yesterday my entire day was AGGRAVATING in every way. It was such an aggravating day, in fact, that it would take a very long time to explain every bit of it so I will just get to the point (which is long enough in and of itself).

When I got home from work yesterday, needless to say, I was very flustered. What better thing for a woman to do when they're upset than to clean? So I started cleaning out my purse and wallet, both of which had accumulated a lot of trash and spare change. Then, I decided that Panda Express would make all my problems go away. My jaw has been locked- nearly closed- for the past 4 days and I figured I could fit some Panda Express through the small gap I can open my mouth. Determined to find a Panda Express closer to my house than the River Park location, I got on Map Quest and pulled up a list. It said that there was one about a mile and a half from my house, but never in my passings through this area had I ever beheld such a Panda Express. So I figured I would drive by and see if it existed, and if not I would go to the one I had seen way out north on Willow. Sure enough, the Panda by my house was only a tall tale so I drove out to the other one which turned out being way farther than I remembered. It was on Willow and Nees. I grabbed my purse to go inside and noticed it felt rather light weight. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks; I had left my wallet on the kitchen table. I hadn't a dime to my name. Despair then filled my soul and I yelled, "ALL I WANT IS SOME PANDA!"

I drove all the way back home and reported my misfortune to Baby Cakes. He then suggested that we go to the Panda by Manchester since Map Quest said it was one of the top 3 closest locations. I got on 41 south from Ashlan, forgetting (as I often do) that Shields is the very next exit. I was in the middle lane, trapped between cars and missed my exit, the next one being McKinley. I was fed up by this point in time. All I wanted was some Panda Express to make my bad day go away and it was only creating more grief.

Shortly thereafter, we arrived at our destination and were finally able to partake of the goodness that is Panda. My enjoyment was suddenly cut short when I dropped a glob of mandarin sauce on my pants. Just when I thought my day could stoop no lower, it stooped. I finished my food and sat quietly in contemplation. What can I do to not let days like this get to me? Then, I reached for my fortune cookie, expecting nothing more than a tasty treat. I cracked it open and read my fortune, which was like a message from heaven as though God himself wrote it just for me: MODIFY YOUR THINKING TO HANDLE NEW SITUATIONS.

There it was; the answer that had been trying to manifest itself to me all day. I just happen to be so dense that God had to sneak it in my fortune cookie. Then a song came to mind, almost immediately, that expanded upon my fortune cookie's wisdom…

Sister Hazel- Change Your Mind

Hey, Hey
Did you ever think
There might be another way
To just feel better
Just feel better about today?

Oh no-
If you never want to have
To turn and go away
You might feel better
Might feel better if you stay

I bet you haven't heard
A word I've said
If you've had enough
Of all your tryin'
Just give up
The state of mind you're in

If you want to be somebody else,
If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else
CHANGE YOUR MIND