When Everything Goes Wrong

5 Lessons from a Tough Week

Have you ever had one of those weeks where it feels like life is throwing problem after problem at you? That was my experience last week. It was like my plane was stuck in Setback City with no sign of takeoff.

It all started on Thursday when our washing machine decided to call it quits. Not the worst thing in the world, but definitely an expense we could have done without. Then, on Friday, things got even messier. I heard a knock at the door and opened it to find out our car had rolled off the driveway right into our neighbour’s car. Just what we needed, right?

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While dealing with that chaos, I completely forgot about a physio appointment for my shoulder, one I had waited six weeks for! Missing it might not sound like a big deal, but at that moment, it was the final straw. Stress hit me like a tidal wave. My head pounded, my fingers tingled, my stomach churned, and tears welled up.

For a little while, it felt like the end of the world. But after 48 hours (and plenty of deep breaths), I had time to reflect. And through that reflection, I came away with five big lessons:

1. Expect Setbacks

Life is unpredictable. As the saying goes, stuff happens or, well, (something a little stronger). Even thousands of years ago, people knew this; an ancient proverb says, “People are born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” It’s a fact of life. If we accept that setbacks are inevitable, maybe we won’t be so shocked when they happen.

2. Feel Your Feelings (Without Guilt)

After the car incident, my wonderful neighbour reassured me: it’s just a car. No one was hurt. That’s what insurance is for. They were right, of course. But in that moment, I didn’t feel lucky. I felt overwhelmed, frustrated, and honestly, a little sorry for myself. And that was OK! We don’t always have to feel grateful right away. Acknowledging our emotions even the tough ones is part of being human.

3. Don’t Dwell Too Long

There’s a saying: If something won’t matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes worrying about it. Now, that might be a bit extreme (because, let’s be honest, I was upset for more than five minutes). But I decided that 48 hours was enough.

Ralph Waldo Emerson put it best:

Finish each day and be done with it. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. Mistakes happen, life moves on, and we get a fresh start.

4. Accept Imperfection

We all have different stress triggers, such as money worries, relationship struggles, or just feeling like we have to do everything right. These can cause us to react badly to difficulties. For me, it’s this nagging belief that I have to be perfect. But let’s be real: perfection is impossible.

Lately, I’ve been enjoying Miranda Hart’s book I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You, which has been a great reminder that expecting perfection is pointless. In fact, there’s a Japanese art form called Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, highlighting the cracks instead of hiding them. I love that idea. Mistakes don’t make us broken; they make us human.

5. Lean on Your Friends

The best thing I did after my awful week? I called a friend. She listened, let me vent, and reminded me I wasn’t alone. Sometimes, that’s all we need someone to share the load. So, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, don’t bottle it up. Reach out to a friend, a loved one, or even a friendly neighbour. It makes all the difference.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, last week was rough. But it also taught me a lot. Life will throw curveballs. We will have tough days. But if we expect setbacks, allow ourselves to feel, choose to move forward, embrace imperfection, and lean on those around us, we’ll get through it.

And next time, I’ll double-check the handbrake!