It's been a few years since my old life as I knew it stopped and it transformed into a new and different and in some ways better life.
I will eventually write a blog called "Growing up the hard way" about how the difficult and painful years from an early age to young adulthood and beyond can either destroy a person or be their path to maturity. But, for now I will focus on something that I have realized recently.
Sometimes we go through dark periods in our lives in our lives animated by sadness, depression and/or grief. At the time, we are focused on the hurt and the pain and surviving it. In other words, we are too busy working through the pain to notice or to accept the happy moments. In a way, we are stuck in the darkness of the moment and though we have happy moments, we really don't appreciate those moments until long afterward. In other words, in hindsight, we locate jewels in the darkness.
The concept has been floating in my mind for a while not quite crystallized. It was a simple thing that really flipped the switch on this the other day. I was driving home from work the other day and heard "Wild One" by Flo Rida featuring Sia. I love music and I have gotten some happiness or contentment out of listening to that song. I looked back and at the time I was underemployed, working through a divorce, didn't have my daughter, was in the process of losing my house and just lost my brother. In short, I felt like I was living in hell. But that song, for the few minutes it was on at a time, brought a little respite for my sadness and grief.
But, I look back and now I see that while I lost full-time custody of my daughter, I had some special moments with Olivia that I will savor. It was me and funny girl facing the world. We learned to enjoy "chasing nature": usually birds, ducks, squirrels or rabbits. We went to church together and made friends. We went on shopping trips together where I bonded with her over helping her to find clothes she loved. We learned the simple joy of picking up food and refreshment at QT. We learned the joy of sitting on the sidewalk, while picking out seeds out of pods. I could go on forever, but what I realize in hindsight is this: while things were brutal around me, I look back and had moments of joy or happiness. I call them "Jewels in the Darkness".
I guess my takeaway is this: always realize there is joy to be found in the darkest moments.
Goodnight and I hope my readers have a good day tomorrow.
--Rich
