It is a fact that we will all go through times when our lives will seem to be completely out of our control.  I think we can all relate to this (especially after all we have been through in 2020 and all we continue to go through).  I do not think that anyone truly gets through life without experiencing sadness, disappointment, hurt, fear, etc.  I do believe it is all just part of our journey here (not that knowing that makes it any easier). 

I know firsthand how overwhelming life can be.  I know how hard it can be to keep picking yourself up time and time again only to be disappointed again and again.  I know what it is like to live life from a place of total fear and uncertainty.  I know what it is like to feel that no matter what you are trying to do the end result is never what you want.  It is truly heart-breaking to me how many of us tend to suffer in silence thinking there is something wrong with us.  As a result, so many of us do not reach out for help.  

Doing the work I do, I have learned that we are all a lot more alike than we realize  We all have fears and insecurities.  We all question our choices and our options.  We all doubt ourselves. I often think back to different times in my life when I was struggling with different challenges.  It’s easy to look back now and realize what I could have done differently to have pulled myself out of situations faster.  However, it is even more helpful to think about the new tools and awareness I have that help me process those difficult times.  Unfortunately, that knowledge doesn’t keep you safe from experiencing things beyond your control, disappointments, hurt, sadness, etc.  It is in those moments that we must train ourselves to look for those everyday miracles in life.

Now before I share my own everyday tiny miracle I want to tell you something.  If you are struggling, overwhelmed, depressed, etc REACH OUT FOR HELP. No one, and I mean no one, should ever feel that they are all alone.  There is always someone out there to support and assist you no matter what you are going through.  I can also guarantee you that there is also someone out there somewhere that has gone through it already.  Sometimes you can find support from someone close to you and sometimes it can be a complete stranger.  We are going through some crazy times and a lot of people are struggling.  Be that person who is strong enough to ask for help and determined enough to make it through whatever your challenges are. Now back to my little everyday miracles.  One of the things I noticed in my own life is that whenever I am going through a challenge (big or small) there are always these little everyday miracles.  Miracles are not things that just happen to people in the Bible or to some chosen ones.  Miracles happen each and every day and they happen to people from all walks of life.  Some miracles are huge and unexplained.  Other miracles are small but can have a huge impact.  I wanted to share a little everyday miracle that I recently experienced.

COVID, shutdowns, lockdowns, building up for sale, relocating the business and our personal home with this next year, and on and on.  To say it has been a non-stop everchanging time is an understatement.  There have been a lot of very long workdays, lots and lots of juggling, revamping, decision making, and waiting (something I am NOT at all good at).  Like you, I sometimes feel like the weight of the world on my shoulders is just crushing my spirit.  It is during these times that I look for those little things in life to keep that smile on my face!

The first day I re-opened the shop after the COIVD shutdown I was walking to the front entrance and I noticed this little yellow flower growing in the crack of the cement right there in the entranceway.  It was like this little ray of sunshine welcoming me back!  Now I am sure it is a weed but it is so full of life and it was just this little ray of hope during such a crazy and uncertain time. As the days and weeks went by I was always amazed how it survived without getting stepped on by clients and customers walking in and out of the shop.  It got to the point where each and every morning I gave it a happy little hello as I entered the building.  It always made my day.  I had even posted a picture of it on my social media page to share with others.

Ironically, it was shortly after I shared the picture on social media that I came into work one day and it was gone!  Apparently, the lawn guys had weed-whacked it!  I was so upset but when I looked into the crack in the concrete I could still see part of it in there so I was hoping it would grow back!  Then a week or so later I saw it once again begin peeking through the crack of cement.  I was so excited!  It wasn’t killed it was back!  This tiny little flower had no only become my daily reminder to smile but it had become my reminder that every little thing was gonna be alright (now read that again and hum to the beat of that song….every little thing…is gonnnnnaaaa beeee allllrrright).  I kept telling Kyle that I needed to find a way to dig it out as when we relocate it is coming with me!

My amazing little flower was doing great!  Our morning ritual was back!  What was really cool is that it was only fully opened in the morning so it was like my secret little gift!  Then I came in one day and it was completely gone!  This time the was no root, no sign of it at all!  I was devastated!  Yes, I know how silly that sounds but I was.  I felt so heartbroken that my tiny little flower was gone!  Why?  Why would someone remove it!  Ugh…isn’t it funny how one person’s weed is another person’s treasure!  Isn’t it funny how the littlest thing can become such a symbol of hope!

Outside my shop, I have four planters (purple of course).  Every year I fill them with flowers.  My little yellow flower had been growing right next to one of the planters. I have to tell you that normally I have some very awesome flowers growing in those planters but I have to be honest this year has been a challenge.  For whatever reason, the flowers in the pot are just not doing as well as they have in the past years.  Not only are they not growing well but I even noticed a weed growing in the planter in front of the entrance.  Every morning as I walk by the weed in the planter I would think to myself, “I really need to get that out of there”.  However, most mornings I have a hundred things in my hands, and then I would get sidetracked and totally forget about it.  Then one day I was watering the flowers and I went to pull the weed out when I literally heard, “NO LEAVE it”, so I did.  Days went by and I really didn’t think anything of it.  Then it happened!  I was walking up to the front door of the shop one day stressing about the state of our country, wondering if we were ever going to get back to normal, wondering how to bring people back together, and there it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My little yellow flower!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was growing right in the planter!  The very weed I almost pulled was actually my little yellow flower!

I can not tell you how much seeing that flower makes my day every morning.  In a world of chaos, negativity, fear, and anger it is the one reminder that …. EVERY LITTLE THING IS GONNA BE ALRIGHT.

What is your everyday miracle?