Problem V Solution

Problem:  A matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome.

Solution: A means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.

I often think about my kinda sponsee who got a DUI but cannot seem to get past his resentment that The Man is screwing him over somehow.  This may be true - what do I know?  Now, usually when I ask "what do I know?" I'm asking a rhetorical question while implying that I know a great deal which is usually not the case.  This is why I make so much stuff up.  In this instance, however, I've got some knowledge and I've got some experience and these two things combined lead to a schtickle of wisdom, and the wisdom in this case and to my way of thinking is that it takes a lot more energy to complain than it does to accept.  Life is often capricious and seemingly unfair so my tendency is to seize these contradictions as an excuse to complain that I'm being persecuted.  When things are going my way I spend very little time pondering how lucky I am that things are going my way but when things aren't going my way then I litigate and rehash the unfairness over and over again, in my own head and to anyone who I can trap into listening.  So I brought this "wisdom" to his attention after listening to his grievances over and over, in as kind a way as I could while trying to bring a little firmness to the process, and he took my thoughts well but I bet that the next time I speak with him that he's going to be stuck in the same trash-filled rut.  It takes time to internalize new behavior and he's not really going at his recovery hammer and tongs at this point, preferring to dabble when it's convenient.

Tong:  A type of tool used to lift and grip objects instead of holding them directly with hands.

Hammer and Tong: With great vigor and determination, energetically and enthusiastically.

So what's my game plan today?  Finding problems?  Or finding solutions?