Negotiating the February Blahs

Negotiating the February Blahs.

It’s February. In northern climes, this month is often associated with the ‘blahs’. For many, the February Blahs are a convenient, overly cute expression for mid-winter complaints, such as “enough cold !”, “enough snow !”, “enough darkness !”. Of course, depending upon one’s views, particular location, preferred outdoor activities, concerns about global warming and quality of bedroom blinds (or lack thereof), the February Blahs may mean griping about there being “not enough cold !”, “not enough snow !” and “too much light, far too early in the morning --unlike late December when you could sleep-in past 8:00 a.m.!”.

Now let me be clear: when I refer to the February Blahs I do not mean Seasonal Affective Disorder (or, seasonal depression), which is a serious condition and a different matter altogether (please see your doctor if you suspect you have this condition). Instead, I am referring to a simple, non-clinical, healthy dissatisfaction with how we experience the month of February.

However, dissatisfaction tends to leave one feeling…..,well,.....dissatisfied. As a mediator, lawyer (specifically, Settlement Counsel) and – more importantly – an occasional comedic writer, I want you to know that you can negotiate and actually settle the February Blahs much like you would negotiate a resolution of a legal dispute.

While your first instinct might be to send a firmly-worded “cease and desist” letter to the month of February, or to just fire off a lawsuit (good luck trying to serve your court documents), I suggest that extreme measures are better reserved for extreme cases like November Rain, the Dog Days of Summer (no offence to real dogs or their owners), or March Madness (if you are not a college basketball fan or a gambler).

Instead, try a different approach for the February Blahs: Work directly, or through settlement-minded lawyers, with February to find a win-win solution. Perhaps there is some common-ground you both share so that you can find a way to co-exist: Valentine’s Day? National Flag of Canada Day (Feb. 15)? Ice Cream for Breakfast Day (Feb. 6)? The last option might or might not work given that February is also National Dental Month. Of course, it depends upon how often you brush.

Many times though, the parties and their counsel need assistance from neutral, third-party mediators to get the job done. There are different types of mediators for different types of disputes. As well, mediators all have different approaches. For example, a dispute involving the February Blahs might not call for a mediator like April Showers, but the Merry Month of May might be just perfect for the role.  Mediation could be the right forum to help you voice your dissatisfaction about February and to find a resolution so you can both get on with your lives. Perhaps, as part of a mediated settlement, you will agree to put up with February’s disagreeable climate, while February undertakes to ask its neighbour March to give up a day. Then you don’t have to deal with that silly leap year nonsense anymore (note: this is especially useful if your birthday actually falls on February 29).

Alternatively, at mediation, you may come to realize that you can endure the February Blahs if you receive a vacation at the resort of your choice: Either somewhere it is guaranteed not to snow, or somewhere it will definitely snow – depending upon your preference. After all, everyone has different interests.

The point, of course, is that there are always potential solutions to seemingly intractable conflicts. If you are (seriously) interested in learning more about my mediation and settlement counsel services for a wide range of civil disputes, please contact me. Rest assured that my offices are climate-controlled.