I have redefined work to mean living. Now I am working all the time and have a ball.

I think what you are demonstrating is the practice of "making lemonade out of lemons."  What the author seems to be saying is that "when life hands you a lemon, make lemonade" isn't helpful.  What might be helpful is to regard the event neutrally, just something that is.  Then you can address it without the added baggage of carrying around the sense of catastrophe.  I agree that it sounds difficult if not impossible, but I also think it sounds like something worth trying.