First stated by Oliver Hardy to Stan Laurel in a comic short in 1930, this catchphrase made its way into all of their films. The classic team discovered a way to get into alot of mess but comically found their way through.

The world and even our own lives know about mess. Covid, cancer, injury, illness, family strain, economic strife, mental anguish, addiction, war and suffering, on and on are ways that can make living an exhausting endeavor. Some patients will sigh, “Doc, cancer is the least of my concerns now”. So how can we adjust for the chaos? Shall we all just dismiss it like “The pandemic is over”? Really? I know more people with covid now than over the past 3 years. We can’t just magically think trails away or ignore them.

In the short comedy film, the crisis is averted and eventually things can and do improve. (Aah the power of script writing.) But just as there is drama, be assured that there are events positively affecting our lives too. Even with many “fine messes”, there are ways, grand and subtle to bring us through. Here are a few examples: I am inspired by Jessie who smiles now but managed covid, colon cancer surgery and treatment last year. Sure there were terrible times, but this week she bursts with pride as she shows me a picture of her beautiful daughter heading off to college. Rich is a young very strong veteran with a heavy lifting job. The back pain he thought went with the territory. Multiple myeloma in the spine took months to diagnose. Ultimately he became addicted to percocet. Kyphoplasty and radiation for pain, allowed him to be weaned off the drugs. Not a cure or a sure fix yet, but a light in that terrible tunnel for Rich and his family. Jose was busy battling lung cancer when his family from Central American descended on his little home. He and his gracious wife helped to get them settled, apply for citizenship, put the kids in school, and the parents quickly found jobs. “Doc, if I can help them, even while I have cancer, maybe God will spare me”. An ulterior motive, but one that boosts his immune system by reaching outside of himself and his own drama to lift others.

There is no doubt that there are ‘fine messes”. There always will be. We are not unique to time or place, generation or location. Simultaneously we should recognize the many successes we have had. They build our hope and faith for a way through. Being miserable, tearful, despondent and hopeless doesn’t even feel good! A suggestion is to say positive affirmations to yourself constantly instead of ruminating on the drama. When you think, “What else could possibly happen?” Consider,”What else is in store for me?” If we can survive the worst pandemic, have improved survivals with cancer (18 million of you now), forge paths for our children and families that lift them up, there is every expectation that we will get through another “fine mess” and end up just fine too.

Note: While you are doing positive things for yourself, the flu shots and next covid boosters are available now.