New Year is often a time when we put things into perspective.
People choose to ignore the little tests and trials that face them every day and instead look at the bigger picture life has painted them.
This is exactly what Dundee United fans should be doing as they try to erase those memories of Dumbarton from the collective psyche.
OK, so the words Cheaper, Insurance, Direct and Stadium will never be muttered again in tangerine households if they can help it.
However, as 2017 begins, the Tannadice men stand just one point behind new Championship leaders Hibs ahead of Friday’s meeting at Easter Road. That’s not bad at all.
It could have been better but it also could have been a lot worse had the players not gone on their fantastic 14-game unbeaten run that sadly came to an abrupt end in the Hogmanay wind and rain.
It was entirely understandable to see frustrated and angry faces berate the team as they crashed to their second defeat to the Sons this season.
“Six precious points dropped” the supporters will, with justification, argue.
However, as the diehards who have followed United across Scotland and attended Tannadice will surely confirm, the players have been riding their luck in recent weeks.
They could – and probably should – have lost down at Ayr and they have been sneaking other results when they haven’t performed particularly well.
It all caught up with them on Saturday but, with glass half-full, maybe that’s the bad result out the road before they face the Hibees.
Win and they go back to the top of the table.
I, for one, wouldn’t bet against them doing just that regardless of how dismal it was at Dumbarton.
