I'm Gretchen Rubin and this is a little happier.

Years ago, I was at home in Kansas City for a visit,

and I was talking to my mother about a frustration

I was experiencing at work.

I had colleagues who were making various projects

and undertakings more difficult in their different ways.

It seemed like none of these endeavors

should be this difficult, but all these folks

were slowing things down and adding their own drama.

My mother listened, and then she said something

that I've often quoted to other people and to myself.

And she didn't say this in a misanthropic way,

but in a sympathetic matter of fact way, she said,

Gretchen, everything would be easy if it weren't for people.

I remind myself of this often because it's true.

Everything would be easy if it weren't for people,

but the people are there.

They are part of the process and we have to deal with that.

And I have to remember that those people probably

feel the very same way about me.

And after all, it's the people that make everything fun too.

I'm Gretchen Rubin, and I hope this makes your week

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