"When life gives you lemons..." Were you able to finish that saying? Or, here's another one, "When the going gets tough... the tough get going!"

These are called idioms. They are catchy phrases that try in an upbeat way to pull us through some pretty tough and challenging times. Most people have heard that when life gives you lemons, you should grab a spoon, some water, and a whole lot of sugar or sweetener to make the situation better, more palatable, and in some instances even enjoyable, if you can imagine that.

Lemons represent the sour difficulties and undesirable challenges that we can find ourselves faced with. Choosing our mindset, attitude, and decisions in the thick of a negative experience can determine the outcome of the situation for us and possibly others as well.

I often hear my own voice echoing the words, "Don't be reactive. Don't be reactive, Rosemary!" (I say my proper name when I really need to get my attention.)

Setting healthy boundaries for yourself as well as respecting the boundaries of others can be a challenging lesson in itself. Misunderstandings can occur, and feelings can get hurt—along with relationships. But being clear in communicating our needs and expectations of others is kindness and "adulting" in action. This can also be very challenging.

Financial struggles, feelings of being unappreciated or devalued, challenges in relationships with not being trusted, honored, or included. Societal uncertainty and uneasiness about the future are all real challenges that most of us are facing, but choosing to grab the "sweetener" that will help us persevere and keep a positive disposition, mindset, and attitude to get us to the other side is crucial.

Some of our "sweeteners" are going to look similar, and many will be unique to the individual.  One sweetener I have rekindled is my passion for making and collecting miniatures. It is a healthy, fun outlet for me to get lost in the tiny world of imagination after a hectic shift at the hospital. It's no big thing, but it helps me to unplug, recharge, reset, and remember to keep the main thing: Kindness, love, and respect.

What are your "sweeteners?" Do you have healthy outlets and inlets that help you to recenter and refocus? Try something new, or perhaps dust off and rekindle an old passion, like I did. We must find what keeps our chin up and our hearts stirred to remember that every cloud has a silver lining. 

Many challenges can turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Find your balance and stay centered in these challenging times. Take care of yourselves and look out for one another.

And remember: Self-care is not selfish. It's essential. 

Rosemary Klass is the culture wellness advocate at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) and College of Veterinary Medicine. She has spent most of her nearly 30-year career at the VMC as a senior veterinary technician in the small animal ICU. Klass also is a certified conflict mediator and serves as chair of the Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians' Wellness and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Acceptance committees.