My computer died.  Cause of death as yet unknown.

I’m one of those people who spends 8 hours a day, five days a week with her laptop in her lap.

I started to panic.

My business, my blog, the deadlines I had already missed . . .

Then I remembered what I did for a living and took a deep breath.

I think it helped that I had just started a chapter in the book “Awakening Joy: 10 steps that will put you on the road to real happiness”. I was beginning Step 4 “Finding Joy in Difficult Times”.

Now, I’m not suggesting that a non-functioning, non-backed-up computer is the end of the world, but years ago it would have sent me reeling and whining.

Instead, I decided to read “Step 4” in my book, go to bed and in true Scarlett O’Hara fashion, “think about that tomorrow”.

This morning, I got up early and went for a walk and was on the steamy streets of a sleepy Florida town by 6:36 a.m.

I walked to the ATM and took care of some banking, headed to my favorite Italian store (I knew it wasn’t opened but wanted to soak up some laid-back Italian atmosphere, the building itself is adorable.) and then found an open coffee shop.

I stopped for a cup of coffee and discovered the shop had cases of books for the taking.  I started a mystery; eavesdropped a bit on the other early risers sweating outside with me; enjoyed my new book and dark roasted coffee for 30 minutes or so, and then walked the almost mile back home.

So no matter what the fate of my computer (I’m on a friend’s at the moment), I will think of this as a good day: I was outside, exercised and had a bit of an adventure.

The rest will work itself out.

The important part is not the ending, it’s the process – I saved myself a lot of stress.

I like that.

Wishing you a day filled with computers that run, low-cost solutions and happy endings.

In the meantime, breath deeply: it is a great way to start.