Have you ever had a moment where a stranger's comment latches onto you, makes you take pause? Something simple, but profound...

I was going to one of the local hospitals for a quick interview and orientation a few months back. I had my Starbucks already, so was more awake than other non-caffeinated mornings....when I saw an older gentleman, smiled at him...and he asked me how I was. "Fine," I said, "you?" and without hesitation......he told me "I've not had a bad day in my life." That's all that was said in passing. But it made me stop in my tracks....made me take a pause in this busy day.

I realized especially then that I had lost sight of this. I stopped looking for the good or the adventure in the day. I stopped creating an adventure for myself. I've gotten caught up in complaining, grumbling, rushing, staying busy.

How amazing something so unexpected can happen from a stranger in just one passing moment. "Not a bad day in my life" is a pretty bold statement to me, but speaks volumes on this man's outlook. I'm sure he's experienced many ups and downs - he seemed to have plenty of years under his belt. Many moments that caught him off guard. Made him mad or sad, and yet without even having to think about his reply - he knew that each day he had here meant that it was a good day. Oh how I've lost sight of what life is supposed to be about....

It made me think about how much I've slid from where I was with trying to be positive, and how far I still need to go. A few years ago, I told myself that I would do what I could to be a better version of myself everyday - something a friend once told me his goal was and that comment also struck me and became something I've never forgotten. I've lost sight of that - but that man, that stranger helped me remember this. In one short sentence, he made me tear up. He caught me off guard. He changed my day completely. I hope somehow he knew what an impact that small statement had made.

Now I tell myself to try everyday to see life as he does - that there is never a truly bad day. There is good in every moment, every interaction - or there can be. It's not always a passive playing field - most times we have to be the ones to make sure it is a good day. It's our choice to make our days great or allow them to be riddled with chaos and hustle and stress. Our interactions and outlook tint the glasses that allow us to view our lives. What shade have mine been lately? What kind of out of date prescription did my lenses have to allow such a fuzzy, generalized viewing and how long had they needed to be fixed?

If this stranger can make such an  impact on me, I'm confident that each of us can do the same in just a similar moment. A gesture. A positive spark in this dark world. If only we wake up with a clear mindset to do so, to not let the business of our lives overtake the purpose in our life. I hope I can continue to remember this man's words and allow it to help me everyday. For every day, there is a purpose. There is reason. There is meaning. And because of that - every day is a wonderful day.

So, I've thought about doing this for a long while. I'm not the most eloquent or grammatically correct. I'm completely, downright awkward most of the time. So be patient with me....I'm not sure how frequently I will get to this, and it will take me a HUGE learning curve to figure this out, as I am very technologically DEclined/stunted.

Honestly, I've been struggling often lately. With many things in life. Most of life. And I see many of my friends and family struggling as well. I know there is so much pain that occurs daily. But we are all survivors of one thing or another - or many things. I think we forget how strong we are from what we've been through. That there is reason to everything, even if we can't see it in the moment. No matter how discouraged I get, I refuse to give up and think that this life is just about exerting all our energy to tread water, keeping our head just above the water, gasping despirately for whatever air we can get. That is exhausting. Unsustainable. There's much more to this short, bittersweet life than that. I want to see those reasons for the bitter to help me realize the sweet that much more. To not just get by in this life, but to see it as a wonderful adventure. There are too many worrisome, stressful, hectic....sometimes downright chaotic occurrences in our lives anymore. I guess this is my way of trying something new. Something to do what I can to maybe somehow help myself, and others if I can. What do I have to lose? I don't believe in keeping my cards (experiences) close to my heart where they're safe and hidden. I've learned years ago that, however difficult, it's better to show my hand. Tell my story. If more of us did this, less of us would feel so alone or lost. We'd have a community of support and understanding. Maybe one person can't do much, but it can't hurt to try. This is my way of finding some purpose in the pain...being able to appreciate the full spectrum of bittersweet.