I like to think everything happens for a reason. If it doesn't, at minimum it's a fascinating thought. Life can lead to many sticky situations, but given the proper amount of time, space, and self-reflective hindsight, those seemingly sticky situations can bring about a clarity that wasn’t previously known.

The amount of time and space varies, however.

And if the self-reflective hindsight isn’t equally grounded in reality and joy, the clarity is unlikely to surface.

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Today, I've been spending some time feeling appreciative -- for everything. For now. For the possibility of tomorrow. For myself and everyone I know. For good health and good spirits. For the food I can buy. For the warm California weather in February. You name it, I appreciate it.

Isn't that a common reason people and relationships get so worn down and eventually implode...because they feel unappreciated and taken for granted?

A year ago, I would have been spending my Sunday tuning in to all the negativity surrounding me. I would have been dreading going to work the next day and thinking about all the little roadblocks I deal with on a daily basis. It's amazing how many roadblocks you can find when you seek them out. What's more amazing is how few you actually run into when you keep you head and heart in the right place. Most roadblocks live in our heads; it's the innocent moments of teaching that line up with our expectations of roadblocks that roam the world, but we are so quick to blame the innocent.

Is it trash or is it a message in a bottle?

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Today, I don't receive that negative frequency for any longer than perhaps a few seconds before I shake it off. It's not because things around me have really changed all that much. It's because I have changed my attitude and reaction to those things. I'm not perfect and do fall into the darkness at times, but I'm getting really good at jumping out of it quickly and learning to appreciate the contrast and lessons of those dark moments.

After all, it is said we don't know happiness unless we have experienced sadness, and that can be very true indeed. I think we need quick trips in the wrong direction so we know where the right path is and why we chose that path.

Sometimes, those short treks down a path of challenges make us realize a new path we hadn't considered before. And how could that be bad?

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