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Episode 3186:
Amidst the swirling chaos of April, Angelina Lee shares a touching story of finding unexpected beauty and resilience. Her narrative, "Brilliance in the Trench," from ExploringPlanBe.com, vividly illustrates the power of perspective during overwhelming times. It's a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there are splashes of color and hope that thrive against all odds.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://exploringplanbe.com/brilliance-in-the-trench/
Quotes to ponder:
"April has been a long year."
"I felt as though I was standing on a platform with a small cup of water in my hand while watching a train that was completely engulfed in flames speed down the tracks."
"That we could look at the rubble piling up all around us and yet miss the brilliant colours of hope that manage to grow through the cracks."
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[00:00:28] This is Optimal Living Daily, episode 3186,
[00:00:31] Brilliance in the Trench, by Angelina Lee of ExploringPlanB.com
[00:00:36] and me, narrator Justin Malik, reading you blogs every single day of the year, including holidays.
[00:00:41] Without further ado, let's get right to it as we optimize your life.
[00:00:50] Brilliance in the Trench, by Angelina Lee of ExploringPlanB.com
[00:00:55] April has been a long year.
[00:00:58] I've said these words more times than I can care to admit over the last few weeks.
[00:01:02] A barrage of bad news and compounding challenges brought a feeling of overwhelm,
[00:01:06] unlike any I've ever experienced before.
[00:01:09] On one of those dark days, I tried to describe to a loved one how I was feeling.
[00:01:14] I felt as though I was standing on a platform with a small cup of water in my hand,
[00:01:18] while watching a train that was completely engulfed in flames, speed down the tracks.
[00:01:23] I felt helpless beyond belief.
[00:01:26] I was afraid of what could possibly happen next.
[00:01:28] I was shocked at how quickly and drastically life could change.
[00:01:32] And perhaps the hardest part,
[00:01:34] I felt anguish over being so far away from loved ones who needed support in so many ways.
[00:01:40] It would have been easy to lose all hope and to yield to despair,
[00:01:43] but through it all, there was a sustenance that I cannot explain.
[00:01:47] Yes, there was a numbness, but there was also a resilience.
[00:01:51] Yes, the days and nights are hard, but there is a growing strength.
[00:01:56] As if the whirlwind of events wasn't enough,
[00:01:58] one night in the middle of it all, our fridge and freezer stopped working.
[00:02:02] It was a problem that paled in comparison to everything else that was on my proverbial plate,
[00:02:07] but it was a problem nonetheless,
[00:02:09] one which brought with it too many impracticalities to be ignored.
[00:02:13] As my husband and I set out early the next morning to find a replacement,
[00:02:17] we weren't prepared for how difficult a task that would be.
[00:02:20] Apparently our old faithful is an outdated make, model, and color.
[00:02:25] And so we visited much more stores than we had initially anticipated
[00:02:28] in an attempt to find an appliance that would match the rest of our space.
[00:02:33] As we exited yet another store empty-handed,
[00:02:36] we had to walk around a gaping trench in the sidewalk to get to our car.
[00:02:40] There was rubble on both sides of the hole, but not a workman in sight.
[00:02:44] For whatever reason, this trench seemed to have been untouched for a very long time.
[00:02:50] The caution tape erected around the site was old and faded,
[00:02:54] and there was no indication that works would recommence anytime soon,
[00:02:57] or that the pavement would eventually be restored.
[00:03:01] As I carefully walked past the open trench, something caught my eye.
[00:03:05] Growing out of the side of the concrete drain
[00:03:08] was a single stalk bearing bright green leaves and two brilliantly colored flowers.
[00:03:13] The sight caused me to stop suddenly in the middle of the road and stare.
[00:03:18] I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
[00:03:20] Hardly a place of nourishment and growth,
[00:03:22] this plant had somehow found exactly what it needed in order to thrive.
[00:03:27] Barely a footing yet standing tall and firm,
[00:03:31] its beauty was pronounced by the rubble all around it.
[00:03:34] Wait, I called out to my husband as he walked up ahead.
[00:03:37] I need to take a picture of this.
[00:03:39] Of a drain, he inquired, watching me as though the stress of the last few weeks had finally gotten to me.
[00:03:45] I looked at him in awe. He hadn't seen it.
[00:03:48] That which most brazenly caught my eye was so easily missed by someone walking right beside me.
[00:03:53] I smiled and turned my attention back to the brilliance in the trench.
[00:03:57] I was painfully yet peacefully reminded that there is a delicate dichotomy to life,
[00:04:03] that we could feel helpless and yet hopeful,
[00:04:07] that we could experience fear deep within our bones and yet stand firmly grounded in faith,
[00:04:14] that we could grieve immensely and yet rejoice in newfound life,
[00:04:19] that we could be miles apart from the ones we love
[00:04:21] and yet bound closely together with cords that cannot be broken,
[00:04:25] that we could understand with a rational mind and yet pray for a miracle,
[00:04:30] that we could look at the rubble piling up all around us
[00:04:32] and yet miss the brilliant colors of hope that managed to grow through the cracks.
[00:04:37] Although the challenges of April have left our hearts filled with grief and wondering what comes next,
[00:04:42] I have a peace in my heart, a peace that knows that there can be joy in the midst of sorrow
[00:04:49] and there can be laughter in the midst of tears,
[00:04:52] a peace that knows that even the darkest of nights have an end
[00:04:55] and that the sun will rise with brilliance once again on the horizon,
[00:04:59] a peace that knows that there is promise in tomorrow, hope for today,
[00:05:04] and that I am only expected to take it one moment at a time.
[00:05:07] And so I take this one hard moment
[00:05:10] and I fully lean into it, determined to look for that which is so easily missed
[00:05:15] if I don't allow myself to sit with those difficult feelings on those darkest of days,
[00:05:21] determined not to miss the brilliance in the trench.
[00:05:29] You just listened to the post titled
[00:05:30] Brilliance in the Trench by Angelina Lee of exploringplanb.com
[00:05:35] and I'll be right back with my commentary.
[00:05:38] Thank you to Angelina, a nice story for this weekend.
[00:05:41] It's funny how something as small as finding a new fridge can completely derail us.
[00:05:48] Well, it is definitely a stressor if you're short on cash and your fridge goes out.
[00:05:52] You have a time limit before your food expires. Not very fun.
[00:05:57] But when you compare it to what others could be going through like war, famine, disease, and so on,
[00:06:04] well, it could be worse for sure. It can put things in perspective.
[00:06:08] Not that we always have to think about others who might have it worse than us,
[00:06:13] but just taking this article to heart that in those tougher moments,
[00:06:17] there is still our interpretation of it,
[00:06:20] which can be one of hope or positivity or love or whatever you want to call it.
[00:06:28] Basically the opposite of that negative feeling.
[00:06:31] There is that option to think about and like she said,
[00:06:34] it could bring you peace in your heart, even if for a moment.
[00:06:39] So nice one to think about this weekend.
[00:06:41] Have a great weekend, one filled with hope and positivity,
[00:06:45] and I'll catch you tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.