Murphy's Law is: If anything can go wrong, it will. Then there is Otoole's Commentary on Murphy's Law: Murphy was an optimist. A related law is the Law of Selective Gravity: An object will fall so as to do the most damage. Corollaries to these laws are:

The chance of the bread falling with the jammed side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet.

If there are only two programs worth watching, they will both be on at the same time.

If you don't need it and don't want it, you can have tons of it.

A monetary windfall is always accompanied by a new expense of the same amount.

If it's good, they discontinue it.

If everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

When the plane you are on is late, the one you are connecting to is always on time.

No matter which side of the fire you move to, the smoke will come your way.

There is no limit to how bad things can get.

Yes, life does throw us many glitches and disappointments. We are in constant search for happiness but Murphy's Law just keeps getting in the way. Occasional bliss and tranquility is always interrupted by difficulties, crises and tragedies. Just when you think you have grasped happiness, peace, security and a winning formula, one of life's spoilers comes along.

That's life. It is a roller coaster. By definition it does not course in a straight line and even if it did it would intersect physical and ethical laws and other people's lines that are not accommodating or conveniently avoiding yours. Such collisions often cause setbacks because our agenda is never perfectly in accord with other's. If you drive to work and ignore all other traffic, signals and signs, disaster strikes because other cars have a different agenda. Only when you take into consideration all the traffic laws, stay alert and are considerate of others, can there be hope for smooth sailing.

Life intelligently lived should be seen as a continuing educational process meant to refine us. Without things going wrong we do not learn. All sun makes a desert. Adversity and setbacks teach us humility, that we are not invincible, that it is not all about us, we are not perfect, above the law or superior to others. If at first we don't succeed, there is no reason to throw away all the evidence.

Also, rarely does a bad circumstance befall us for which we are not in some way responsible. So difficulties should create the opportunity for reflection and introspection. An honest self-evaluation should cause adjustment that could save us from an even bigger catastrophe later.

So don't let life's problems get you down or put you in a helpless mode as if you are being singled out or are a victim without control. No one, no matter how seemingly perfect their life, does not have ups and downs. See the valleys in life for what they are, a better vantage point from which to plan your scaling of the mountain.

For further reading, or for more information about, Dr Wysong and the Wysong Corporation please visit www.wysong.net or write to wysong@wysong.net. For resources on healthier foods for people including snacks, and breakfast cereals please visit www.cerealwysong.com.