I have learned, through a series of meaningful and sometimes harsh lessons, that one’s life is about 20 percent what happens and about 80 percent of how you respond to it. So when Ron Littlefield, the first mayor to ever be recalled in the history of Chattanooga, lashed out at his accusers on Tuesday, I wish I could have given him a bit of advice beforehand.

The best course, particularly in the middle of the storm, is to always keep your mouth shut. It’s Biblical – “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” I don’t care which media you choose, but the best advice ever given to a public figure is, “It is impossible to be quoted if you don’t say anything.” Just as well put, there ain’t many deaf-and-dumb guys in prison.

Sure, the reporters’ pads and TV cameras are thirsty – that’s the way they make money – and when the mayor came ripping out of the gate on Tuesday, delighting his detractors by labeling them as "radicals" who he said were "spewing venom" and were "blinded by anger," his accusers just loved it.

Oh, I’m hardly a genius, but I’d rather subscribe to “the high road.” My buddy Dr. Seuss, such a fount of knowledge, got it right some years ago when he endearingly said, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

But the Mayor, now being most carefully watched and studied by those voters who did not sign the petitions asking his ouster, should be planning his next moves with his cards still face down on the table. Writing a heated letter, one that accuses his very accusers and unwittingly plays to their rancor, is more hurtful than helpful. I promise that’s so.

To file a lawsuit, in my mind, is also poor gamesmanship. Okay, Mayor Littlefield is in a pinch, but people who vote in today’s elections are darn-near fed up with the political tact of going to the courthouse and weaseling one’s way out of a mess if you can find a legal loophole. Oh, the lawyers love it; they charge by the hour and are make their living with lengthy arguments.

History, on the other hand, has proven the worst place in the world to enamor a voter is in a courtroom. Haughty and arrogant are also poor teammates so instead of wasting energy on anger, let’s put a positive spin on the recall because, to paraphrase Brother Seuss, “If you’ll meet it, you’ll beat it.”

We are led to believe the primary cause for the recall, and its apparent success, is the 9,000-plus signatures of those who got mad because of June’s 19-percent tax increase. The truth is that is easy to explain if you point to the fact it has never been as hard for a municipality to provide the services we need. A bad economy affects us all. Simply show those who will vote for you again why the tax increase had to be done.

The second thing is a bit more tricky, but if the Mayor was slick he would have already done it – apologize. Yeah, the police-chief thing was handled badly and, you’re right, the annexation turned out to be a little bit more of a reach. He ought to say “I’m only human and, on some days, it seems like ‘I’m riding the train while time always flies.’ But so help me, I’ve tried to do what’s best for everybody. I’m sorry if that doesn’t always come across.”

Third, the Mayor’s strongest card is the fact he’s already in office. It is glaringly obvious he's got certain projects rolling, and installing a new administration would badly hinder the day-to-day operations of the city. Everybody who is going to vote on Nov. 2 needs to know that. As Littlefield spins it, he should also promise to be conservative and forthright as his term runs out. Right now Littlefield’s strength is that his team is already in place.

C’mon, Mayor, promise the voters, “I’ll finish strong” instead of insulting every person who signed a petition. Tell the Election Commission to decide whether the recall is legal rather than dirty your own hands. Get Volkswagen to make some dramatic announcement next week and wear a bright tie for the photo op.

Do something – anything – to make people laugh. The worst thing to do would be to announce a new piece of “public art” and don’t dare let the sewage treatment facility overflow. Use your head. I’ll even give the Mayor a guaranteed win – abolish the traffic cameras.

Let’s face it, a signature on a petition is only that. Voters are what you need. Cancel the lawsuit, quit writing stupid letters. Don’t use angry words. You’re just playing to your opponents’ emotions when you do that. Ignore the gnats and keep your focus on the beehive.

I get mean emails sometimes and I simply ignore them. I learned long ago, “Never get in a fight with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” This ain’t exactly rocket science, but don’t let anybody see your cards before you play them. And, brother, I’m talking about praying about everything before you respond to it.

Stand tall. Seek the high ground. Finish strong. Again, Mayor, it is really this simple: “If you meet it, you’ll beat it.”

royexum@aol.com