I broke my sister’s car.

I’m not sure if it was my fault or not. Results were inconclusive. Three of us headed to eat, and I sat in the backseat. We talked about child safety locks, which are unnecessary at this point in my sister’s life. When we got out, we tried to turn off the locks. When I tried to close the door, it wouldn’t close.

That was a problem. We obviously couldn’t leave the door unlocked while we were inside. But no worries: we were close to the dealership, so we headed that way. We laughed the entire way, as I held the door closed and imagined my sister taking a quick turn, forcing me to lose my grip. I’d probably survive, since I wore my seat belt, but would their nice car? The dealership couldn’t fix it but got it closed for the day. My sister made an appointment for the following week. I used the other door for the rest of the day and offered to pay for whatever the cost of the repair would be. She and her husband refused. And as it turned out, the following day, my brother-in-law easily fixed the issue.

That was a close one. Everything worked out. We had a good laugh. No one was hurt. The car was fine. We found humor is a potentially stressful situation. That’s not always the case. Sometimes, even minimally potentially stressful situations can derail our day and our stability. I wonder what makes the difference. Why can we laugh at times and nearly lose our minds other times? Some of it has to do with the people we’re with. Some of it has to do with the context, what comes before and after. And much of it has to do with the work we do on our healthy selves in all the in between times. For me, my faith has the most impact, but it doesn’t determine every reaction. I struggle. I choose. And I also reflect—before, during, and after. Reflection and analysis doesn’t paralyze me; it provides a broader context of what’s happening and how I respond. It helps me the next time. It makes me bold, courageous, and humble. It helps me enjoy and appreciate. It helps me learn and grow.

It’s not too much different than the ride to the dealership. It feels a bit risky but is also fun. I can be a little scared while finding humor and enjoying the people I’m riding with.