I was looking through some pictures that are in holding-pattern for the photo album.  Which is basically where all my photos in the house are.  Ran across one from a trip to Colorado that was at once exhilirating (first time I'd ever seen the Rocky Mountains) and distressing (first time I was given the big send-off at a Denny's--anywhere). 

This picture hadn't been re-touched.  Meaning that I hadn't cut off the person's head and then told people about my fabulous trip I took to Colorado by myself. So the picture brought back a lot of memories:  "I have no desire to drive to your house anymore.  I'll be right over to pick up my things."  The table and chairs I'd bought at an auction and he'd refinished.  All but one; apparently it was a three-chair relationship, one in which I wasn't the first-chair violinist I later learned.  

The best thing about that trip was that I got to see Colorado Springs, the Rocky Mountains, Denver, Garden of the Gods (unfortunately they did not strike dead the person who invited me on the trip), and Cripple Creek.  

And the even-more best thing is that now I can laugh about those things that at the time ripped my heart out.  My friend Jay Speyerer says something like, "You may be interesting.  But 50 years from now you will be fascinating!"  To rephrase that, "It might hurt now, but 50 days from now, it will be hysterically funny.  To someone.  Maybe not to you, but the person laughing can show you how to laugh about it.  That is, someone will find it funny, not painful."  OK, Jay is a lot more succinct than I am.  But I am doubtless a better dancer. 

The point is, in 50 days, it will be very funny (remember the 'critical' line Eric Roberts said to me, that it took me 73 days to realize how funny it was.  And I write a blog about this kind of stuff every day and I missed the immediate humor of that one).  What if we could train ourselves to find it funny now, and not go through the pain of processing critical remarks, hurt feelings, misunderstandings? 

That's where the "Together" part of "Get Your SHINE Together!" comes in:  There are always people who can notice the humor in your painful situation.  People who are not emotionally attached to the outcome or the particular circumstances of your situation.  Let them know it's ok to make you laugh.  Let them know they can let you in on the joke.  Because the joke is you, that's how funny you (already) are! 

Now, "Get Your SHINE Together!" no matter who is travelling with you...