Adversity (and why it’s always a bloody trilogy)
Look, before you keyboard warriors get online and start furiously typing that “Kevin, you’ve already done an article about the rule of threes” (which, by the way, was Entry Three in The Diary of a Mildly Chaotic Solopreneur, just saying), just… stop. Look in the mirror, give yourself a stern talking to, and calm down. I love the number three. It’s been popping up in my life forever – so yes, here it is again. Get over it.
Why is it that bad stuff seems to happen in threes? Not little irritations like running out of coffee or discovering you’ve been wearing odd socks all day. I’m talking the bigger, life-lobs-a-wet-fish-in-your-face moments.
My recent shitlogy went like this:
My car got recalled for a safety issue. Off the road. Very exciting when you jugle multiple jobs in multiple places and your “office” sometimes lives in the boot
My cat – the lovely, geriatric, slightly grumpy little girl, had to be put to sleep.
I got struck down with what can only be described as “Covid-like illness (man flu edition)” and spent several days alternately sweating, freezing, and wondering why the hell I was enjoying The One Show.
Now, full disclosure, I am more than aware that these are mostly first-world problems, with the exception of losing my cat, which was properly sad. But adversity, allegedly, teaches us things. I’m not entirely convinced it does, but in the spirit of optimism, here’s what I’ve learned from recent events:
1. You’re not as in control as you think. No matter how many spreadsheets, lists, or colour-coded calendars you have, sometimes your plans get yeeted into a hedge by life. Cars and cats get recalled. Orders get lost (thanks Amazon!).
Takeaway: Build some flex into your schedule. And your brain.
2. Change can feel like an adversity… even when it’s good. At The Cluster, we recently waved goodbye to a lovely business (MeThree) as they moved on to bigger digs. Sad to see them go, but their space is now being transformed into something very exciting that I don’t think North Oxfordshire has yet.
CLUES
❌ Not a panic room (useful though when Trump visits Oxford again – I was just sick in my own mouth typing that!)
❌ Not a rage room (might install one in my flat though!)
❌ Not a cryogenic freezing room (although, given the current molten hellscape we’re in, that might be a money-maker)
Takeaway: Even “good” change still requires you to adjust, so give yourself space to process it.
3. You can’t always choose the lesson… but you can choose the story. Did my week of fever dreams and dramatic duvet-fort living teach me anything profound? Not really. But I got some great anecdotes, a newfound respect for Lemsip, and a reminder that resting before your body forces you to is the cheaper option.
Takeaway: Sometimes the only lesson is “this will make a great story later.”
The Bit Where I Pretend to Be Wise
Adversity is a bit like treading in dog shit:
It’s inconvenient.
It’s not your fault.
It’s definitely going to happen again.
The trick isn’t to avoid it (you can’t), it’s to make sure you’ve got:
A sense of humour.
A change of shoes or a strudy wet wipe!
And mates who’ll laugh with you, not at you… at least until you’ve had a cup of tea and sprayed more JOOP! all over you shoes and general body area than is legally decent!
Takeaway: You might be going though shit but best not to smell of it too!
And remember: when life throws curveballs, you don’t have to catch them all. Sometimes you’re allowed to duck, swear under your breath, and go for a pint instead.
