On being … outlook influenced

 By Ingrid Sapona 

Do you notice your moods? (I’m not asking if you think you’re moody – that’s a WHOLE different can of worms and I’m most definitely not going there!) I think I’m pretty average at identifying my moods. But, I’m definitely better at identifying bad moods and things that trigger them (traffic, politics, injustice, incompetence, etc.). Fortunately, I’ve found some things that are pretty reliable mood improvers, such as baking and turning on one of my favourite playlists. 

What I hadn’t really been aware of until recently is how my outlook can have an impact on my mood. Last week I took the car in for an oil change and checkup. I hadn’t taken it in for about nine months (I’m not driving as much) and the car is old – not “officially” vintage, but close. I was quite nervous about what the bill might be, but I need to keep her running and I trust Gord, my mechanic. 

When I handed him the keys, I gave him the usual marching orders: “Oil change and a check of whatever you feel you need to check Gord, but don’t find anything.” He laughed and went away. When he was done, he came back and said “$96.05”. I was so relieved I let out a little “Yeah, I can afford that” as I tapped my credit card. Later that day a friend who knew I was taking the car in phoned and asked how the checkup went. I enthused: “Great – $96!” adding, “It’s not too often I’m pleased to pay nearly $100 for something, but I sure was this morning!” 

My friend chalked up my glee to having managed my expectations. That’s a topic he and I have talked about many times before. He believes that by consciously keeping expectations low, you’re less likely to be disappointed. I buy into that philosophy to some extent, as I’ve certainly noticed a correlation between high expectations and disappointment. But low expectations aren’t a recipe for actually elevating one’s mood. In any event, that’s not how I’d characterize why I was in such a good mood on learning that the car cost $96. The anxiety I felt about possibly facing a biggish maintenance bill for my car wasn’t an attempt at expectation setting; it was about expenses and cash flow. My happiness was a function of being pleasantly surprised about the cost and the car’s continued reliability. 

The very next day I noticed my mood was also lifted by a letter I received. It was a pension statement from a place I worked at briefly a few years ago. I was only in the pension plan for about 15 months, so the pension is very small. It’s been a few years since I last got a pension statement and I was surprised to see the amount I’ll get on retirement is a bit more than I thought. (The slight increase is because it’s indexed to inflation, which I hadn’t included in my estimates.) 

Mind you, I admit that for a minute I felt a pang of regret when I considered what the payments might be if I’d been at that company for, say, 15 years instead of 15 months. But, I let go of that thought pretty quickly as I remembered how unhappy I was working there. So, as I filed the statement in my retirement folder, I realized I was smiling because it kind of felt like found money. Though I know the amount wouldn’t even count as pocket change to the majority of the pensioners from that company, I was still tickled. 

These two incidents – minor as they were – helped me realize the role my outlook plays in my mood. In a way, these incidents can be characterized as “looking at the up side, rather than the down”. In other words: yes, the car cost me nearly $100 – but it’s better than what it could have been had it needed other repairs. And though I’ll be getting a minuscule amount from that pension – especially by comparison to my former colleagues – “every penny counts” and anything is better than nothing. 

So, since we’re at the mid-point of the year, I’ve decided that for the rest of 2023 I’m going to make a concerted effort to focus on the up side of things. And, as the year progresses, I’m going to monitor whether doing so yields a shift in outlook that produces an overall lighter, brighter, more consistently positive mood. I’m betting it will… 

Care to join me in this challenge?? 

© 2023 Ingrid Sapona

On being ... obscene

 By Ingrid Sapona 

Call me naïve, but I was shocked when I read recent news to the effect that the current Ukrainian counteroffensive is being waged – in part – to demonstrate to western governments that the arms and support they’ve provided Ukraine is paying off. According to the New York Times, “There is little doubt the new military drive will influence discussions of future support for Ukraine as well as debates about how to guarantee its future.” That certainly explains why there’s been so much talk about the timing of the counteroffensive – to heck with the element of surprise. (Maybe there is no such thing as surprise in an era of satellite and drones, I don’t know…) 

Obviously, how Ukraine fares in the counteroffensive matters. If, for example, Ukraine retakes land or inflicts heavy damage to Russian military forces and equipment, Russian morale may suffer, which could impact Putin’s calculus. The more Russian weaponry and equipment is lost in battles, the more countries like Poland may feel it’s less likely that Russia might decide to roll into their territory. Of course, if Russia is severely depleted of personnel or equipment, there’s also the obvious concern it might turn to nuclear weapons. Ultimately, Ukraine’s and Russia’s view of their respective successes/failures – counteroffensive or not – will impact their willingness to negotiate an end to the war and the terms they might accept. 

That same New York Times article also talked about what might happen if the Ukrainian counteroffensive fails. “If battle lines stay relatively unchanged or Ukraine is unable to recapture a significant city, some officials in allied capitals or Congress will likely raise doubts about the war, especially if Ukrainians lose too many troops and a lot of equipment is destroyed.” 

What does it mean to have “doubts about the war”? What is to doubt? Ukraine was invaded and for nearly 16 months Ukrainians have been sacrificing their lives, livelihoods, and homes to fight off a force with imperial designs. They have shown themselves to be brave, resourceful, and resilient. And yet, per the New York Times, “… according to European diplomats, failure would look like a Ukrainian army that has not learned to fight, has lost equipment given to them in recent months and gained no territory to show for that…” How dare anyone imply that Ukraine has not “learned to fight” – they certainly haven’t been sitting by baking cakes. True, they have needed training in some of the advanced systems the allies have provided, but from most accounts, they have been quick studies.  

The NY Times article goes on to say that Biden and UK Prime Minister Sunak have indicated they will continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. I hope that’s the case because the notion that continued support for Ukraine might hinge on the success of the counteroffensive is obscene. The allies can certainly take credit for having provided greatly needed support to Ukraine, including billions of dollars of equipment. But, anyone who thinks such aid is for the sole benefit of Ukraine is truly naïve. Countries aiding Ukraine are doing so in hopes that the battle doesn’t escalate into a full-out world war, as that would cost us all a hell of a lot more than just weapons. 

© 2023 Ingrid Sapona