Reported in Bits and Pieces: After the great Argentinean golfer Robert DeVincenzo won a tournament, he received his check, smiled for the cameras, changed his clothes, and left the clubhouse. As DeVincenzo walked to his car in the parking lot he was approached by a young woman. She congratulated him on his victory and told him that her child was seriously ill and near death. She did not know how she could pay the doctor’s bills and hospital expenses.

DeVincenzo was touched by her story, so he took out a pen and endorsed his winning check for payment to the woman. “Make some good days for the baby,” he said as he pressed the check into her hand.

The next week he was having lunch in a country club when a Professional Golf Association official came to his table. “Some of the boys told me you met a young woman in the parking lot last week after you won that tournament.”

DeVincenzo nodded.

“Well,” said the official, “I have news for you. She’s a phony. She has no sick baby. She’s not even married. She fleeced you, my friend.”

“You mean there is no baby who is dying?” asked DeVincenzo.

“That’s right,” said the official.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all week.” DeVincenzo answered.

Your happiness depends not on events, but what you make of them. You cannot control what other people do, but you have total control over your response. When you react out of fear or judgment, you compound the illusions that bring you pain. When you respond from a sense love or wholeness, you have everything to give and nothing to lose.

Perspective is everything.

How can you reframe a challenging situation so it empowers and uplifts you?

Affirmation for the day: I interpret life in my favor. I make the best of all that comes.