Almost every summer, I attend the national conference of the Romance Writers of America®. This very week, it’s in Denver. And I’m not.

I’m missing out due to some serious health issues (shared in a Wednesday Wisdom post two weeks ago).

The conference is always a great time for so many reasons: Learning from several days’ worth of workshops. Getting the latest news from industry professionals. Meeting with my editors. Comparing notes with other conferees. Catching up with author friends.

And yes, dressing up for some fancy dining and partying, too.

Am I sorry not to be there this year?

You bet.

Will I survive the disappointment?

You’d better believe that’s a yes.

You know what they say. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Or as Henry David Thoreau put it:

“If we will be quiet and ready enough,
we shall find compensation in every disappointment.”

Are you ready? Ready to bounce back from missing the conference? From not seeing the sales numbers you were hoping for? Getting passed over for a promotion? Having your family thumbs-down your latest culinary effort?

Are you ready to recover from whatever recent disappointment you’ve faced?

As I’d mentioned in that earlier post, you can almost always find positives in any situation.

For me, missing out on the conference means we’ll have money on hand to fix the broken lock on our car. I’ll get a week of steady sleep instead of running on adrenaline. I won’t have aching feet from shoes I wear only once a year. Best of all, I’ll have unanticipated extra time to write.

Brace yourself – I’ll be mixing a few metaphors here. 😉 Go with whatever works best for you:

Be quiet. Get ready.

Look for the positives.

Make that lemonade.

Find the silver linings in your situation.

If life’s thrown you a curveball, hit it out of the park – and while you’re at it, I hope you aim for the stars!