During my train ride back to the city today I put in my headphones to help me think, as I often do while working on tasks that require deep concentration. I recently found an app called noisli that is an excellent productivity tool. It allows you to select any number of ambient sounds and mix them into customized “combos.” Mine is a mix of soft waves, wind, nightime nature sounds, and intermittent thunder. I found this quite relaxing and conducive to getting work done.

Getting off the Amtrak at Penn Station I decided to continue listening to the serene sounds of nature as I swerved through the Friday afternoon crowd to get to the 1/2/3 to Times Square, and the to the S to Grand Central. Observing the world through the eyes alone, the sounds drowned out by noise canceling headphones, can be an inspiring experience if you want it to be. You see thousands of people, going wherever they’re going, interacting with the world in their own way. You realize you’re completely in control of your judgement of others. The meaning you place behind the people pushing past you to squeeze onto the train; the person who fishes a dollar from her pocket to give to the talented and underappreciated acoustic guitarist riding the S back and forth between Times Square and Grand Central, the rush of suits, briefcases and leather shoes moving unending through the turnstiles, unaware of who might be waiting his or her turn to swipe their metrocard.

Is there a moral here? Not really. Only the realization that we have the power to make our own interpretation of what we observe of humanity. And on the toughest of days, that little piece of wisdom might help, just a little bit.

Some consider me an optimist. However somehow I feel that the term is a misnomer. Optimism has a connotation of obscuring the truth to make a situation seem better than it may be. I consider myself to be more of a forward-thinker. I don’t look at my current situation or experiences in isolation, but rather in context of what this experience will have on me, and what impact it will have on my life. Our realities, after all, are nothing more than culmination of our experiences.

That said, sometimes things just suck. You get stuck on the 1 train that may be the same train that the guy with Ebola rode; you get a flat tire; you have a bad haircut. The list of experiences that seem like nothing but a pain in the ass goes on. This applies to business travel, dealing with difficult people, and tough projects. But as you go through these experiences, try to remember that you are gaining more from them than you may think. No matter how awful or exhausting they may seem, if we look at our lives as a series of growth experiences, it somehow make the shitty seem not so shitty.

Here are a few things to consider when you think that you’re stuck in a rut, locked into a “bad” long term project, delayed at an airport, or anything else you might think couldn’t be anything but negative. Consider what you are actually gaining from these experiences:

1) The relationships you’re building -no matter how boring the work may seem, the relationships you’re building in the process can last you the rest of your life, if you nurture them properly. Do your best to build strong relationships with those around you, and, if nothing else, you are gaining tremendously from the experience. Relationships with your fellow humans is the meaning of life.

2) The technical skills you are honing – although many tasks you are obligated to complete may seem menial, tedious, and downright unnecessary, the next time you’re faced with the same obligations you will be a master of the task. You may even find ways to improve or eliminate the need for the task altogether. Every new skill learned is another line of a resume.

3) The reward points you are racking up – while this only applies to travel, thinking of all the reward points you are building up sometimes takes some of the pain away. Think of the next vacation you’ll be able to take with all those points.

4) The strangers you are meeting – try to talk to as many strangers as you can. This might seem weird, but we all have our story to tell, and we all have much to learn from each other. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “In my walks, every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.”

5) The food you’re tasting – with airport food being an exception, many travel projects afford the luxury of providing the opportunity to try new food and drink. Try to experience some of the local fare wherever you’re traveling.

6) The soft skills you’re picking up – some clients and colleagues can be difficult to deal with sometimes. Despite the frustration you might feel in the moment, be grateful for the experience, in that it’s teaching you how to manage all types of personalities. Resilience is a virtue, and every difficult conversation is a step on the path to mastering the art of conversation.

7) The billable hours you’re booking – enough said.

8) The paycheck you’re earning – this one might seem obvious, but unless you’re doing work pro-bono you’re getting a paycheck for the work you’re doing. Keep that in mind, and be grateful for what you’ve been able to achieve.

This list of value that difficult experiences can afford is by no means exhaustive, however try to think in this way when faced with a situation that seems sub-optimal. Happiness is a state of mind. Make the most of your experiences.

Motivation comes in many forms, both internal and external. For morning runs, I find that scrounging up enough internal motivation to get on my running shoes and get out the door is all I need, and the external motivation does the rest.

Check out some of these great views that NYC provides to keep the external motivation strong for morning runs in downtown Manhattan

“Be yourself. People want you, not who you’re trying to be.” – Steve Norman

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy

If you’re like me, most of the time you can actually spend doing the things you truly want to be doing must be packed into the 48 hours between Friday and Monday. That said, you probably find it difficult to figure out how to make the time you have feel meaningful and fulfilling before jumping back into the workweek. So here are some tips on how to make the most out of your days off.

1. Plan ahead. Far ahead.

2. Build around your “non-negotiables”

3. Outsource your errands

4. Get outside, it pays off in more ways than one

5. Set aside time to spend with yourself

6. Do something meaningful

7. Switch off

8. Plan ahead, again

Live the life that makes you happy