Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

    Our long, international nightmare is over.
     OK, maybe that's a slight overstatement. How about this: my personal drama - the landlord/tenant version - has been resolved, mostly in my favor. Yes, that's right, the slumlords finally found someone to settle in at Chez Rat Hole. They've repaid my security deposit, minus a rather hefty sum for "expenses" related to the re-letting; I'm not quibbling since I got more than half back, which is still 100% more than I'd really expected. And they didn't even come close to really trying to sue me for the remainder of the amount that I owed them under the lease ($8800). The check's been cashed. Once it's cleared, I'll be completely copacetic. Overall, a win.
     And it's due, as much as anything I did, to the help I received from a certain dashing and talented attorney. If it was primarily in the form of talking me off the ledge and making droll comments, so be it. We each of us have our own strengths, and I'm grateful.
     And I'm free!

[title quotation by William James]