Is it really OK to be NOT OK?

Just read a quote from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the late psychiatrist and author.

"I'm not okay, you're not okay, and that's OK." Said with a few deep breaths can help when you're annoyed with yourself, uptight about someone else, dissatisfied with your current situation, or just grumpy. It's a change of pace from our current cultural competitive, "I'm the best,"mentality. It doesn't fit with the positive thinking mode, but it certainly is realistic and can be relieving.

This morning I tweeted the Dalai Lama's comment about handling hostility and suspicion with love. That's  beyond my current ability — maybe beyond my future ability — maybe beyond what I would even have as a goal.

But reminding myself that it's OK to be not OK sometimes helps. I'm heading out with my new mantra for a long bike ride in the beautiful NW, hoping that the combination will dissipate stress and help move me into productive problem-solving.