Inspiration and hope will come if we are open to it.  So why fight it?

I recently took the family up to visit my sister’s lake house in Southern Maine.  It was the ultimate “unplugged” experience.  Pontoon boats on the water.  Tubing for the adventurous.  Kayaks and paddleboards for everyone.  The type of place where troubles go to die.

One morning, my daughter asked me to go on an early morning kayak trip around the lake.  Having recently suffered some minor personal and professional setbacks, my resilience was running low.  I wasn’t feeling particularly motivated for the trip, but I recognized the importance of the moment.  When your teenage daughter actually asks to spend time with you, the answer has to be yes.

As soon as we embarked on the trip, I knew it would be a special adventure.  The sky was a brilliant azure blue.  The water was clear and inviting.  And the welcome silence of the lake washed over both of us.

This particular lake was littered with hundreds of tiny islands.  Five minutes into the paddle, we stumbled upon a particularly small one and decided to explore.  We pulled the kayaks up on shore and surveyed the landscape.  The island was less than 20 yards long.  Tall pine trees formed a ring around the exterior, leaving a small patch of grass and sand in the center.  Were we the first ones to discover this slice of paradise?

We excitedly pushed on toward the clearing. As we burst through the trees, I looked down and stopped in my tracks.  A bolt of lighting.  Saul of Tarsus getting knocked off the horse.  A sign from the universe!

Resting peacefully in the sand was a flat, polished rock that had no earthy reason to be there.  It was artistically decorated and adorned with the following message:

Stars Can’t Shine Without Darkness

Was someone expecting me?  Did someone know I would be in that exact spot at that exact moment?  Did someone know I needed to see this?

It was a sign.  It was instant perspective.  Adversity presents opportunities.

And don’t we all occasionally need a sign to help guide us in our own lives.

We Can All Use Some Help

Slogans can’t replace effort.  Signs can’t replace desire and appreciation.  Surrounding ourselves with posters and bumper stickers won’t change the trajectory of our lives on their own.  In order to recover from our setbacks, we need more than platitudes and trite sayings.  But when it comes to powering through our most difficult moments, we need all the help we can get!  Why ignore the universe?  Why dismiss a potential boost to our confidence?

Resilience is a mindset.  If we want to push forward, we can’t close ourselves off to the world.  We can’t do it by ourselves.  We need to be in “receive mode” for help.

Sometimes, help might come from a friend or colleague.  Sometimes, help might come from a parent or child.  Sometimes, help might come from a stranger demonstrating particular empathy in the moment.

Sometimes, help might come from a preternatural rock in the middle of an uninhabited island!

We Have to Look for Hope

In dark times, even the slightest sliver of hope can keep us moving in the right direction.  A large deal on the horizon.  A new client with major potential.  A student who is starting to turn the corner.  A player who finally listens.  A child who makes strides toward reaching his or her potential.  An icy relationship that shows progress toward thawing out.

But in order to keep that hope alive we have to believe the future holds promise.  If we believe we can’t win, we will lose.  If we believe the world is stacked against us, we will be alone.  If we believe all hope is lost, there is only room for despondence and lethargy.

Why close ourselves off to the possibility of a better future?

The Signs Are All Around Us

Effort.  Perspective.  Appreciation.  These are the tools necessary to overcome adversity.  These are the building blocks of resiliency.  But sometimes we need little reminders.  Sometimes we need a sign from the universe that everything is going to be okay.

Sometimes, a rock is a rock.  Sometimes, it is a personal message to keep fighting.

We all deserve happiness.  We all deserve a better future.   We all deserve fulfillment.

We all deserve the opportunity to shine in the darkness.

The signs are all around us if we believe. 

Until next week, keep smiling.