Several months ago, a close friend imparted the best advice I have ever received. When I was distressed and anxious about a number of issues, she told me that life is not about waiting for a storm to pass; it is about learning to dance in the rain. My first reaction was to smile and envision myself dancing and swirling about in a typical Louisiana deluge, bedraggled hair and clothes plastered to my body. But the more I thought about it, I realized that she was correct! Life sometimes places obstacles in my path. When that occurs, I can either become upset or learn to make the best out of a bad situation. Her advise sharpened my focus and made me appreciate that I should not take life's stumbles so seriously. Rather, I should aggressively confront any problems, work to resolve them, and accept that I cannot always control the outcome. This advice was noteworthy because of the family difficulties I have faced.