Life is hard right now. I am trying to control uncontrollables, and I know it’s a good use of time and energy (haha). I am spinning around in my head at all hours of the day and night. Now, you may be asking if I am practicing self-care, and the truth is, to some degree, I am. I am journaling every morning. I walk and do push-ups, squats, and lunges at any given moment in an attempt to burn off nervous energy. But still, I can honestly say I am not at my best.

Earlier this week, I saw a post on Instagram that said:

I laughed and sent it to my sisters because…isn’t that what everyone does?!

It’s funny because it’s so true. When our schedules and lives are hectic, we often miss signs or good omens because we aren’t seeing clearly. We see through the lens of fear, worry, chaos, uncertainty, and all the other vision-clouding sensations. We miss all the ways life is going FOR us. 

Before you roll your eyes, this is not a PollyAnna spiel I am about to lay on you. I think you will find it tracks for you, too. A few weeks ago, while driving, I was really stressed about all manner of situations I could not even name for you today. I got off on an exit that is normally pretty congested. I was already running late because I committed the mortal sin of NOT getting gas in my car in the evening and waiting until the morning (I know better). 

As I was rolling up the exit, I said aloud, “Come on, Universe, give me something.” And while it might be a coincidence, I hit every green light and rolled right to my destination only a few minutes late instead of 10.

At that moment, I was so relieved, but then I jumped right into work and completely forgot about this good fortune until I began to tell you about it. We often lose our grip on what’s going well because it’s not causing us angst. When we are sailing smoothly, nothing is yelling for our attention, so it often goes unnoticed. 

While that Instagram post was undoubtedly shared in jest, it also has some truth. We need a “signier sign” when stressed, distracted, and the like because that is required to get our attention. 

A friend of mine told me the other day that we will never be able to feel pure joy unless we have experienced deep pain and sadness because it’s the stark contrast that provides meaning for each. They are less without their opposites.

While inconvenient, I believe there is tremendous wisdom in that statement. We spend quite a bit of time running from discomfort, but to some extent, that also steals from our moments of elation. 

If you are like me and need a signier sign for the times you are in. THIS IS IT!! 

“Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and awful, it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living a heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful.”

― L.R. Knost