silver lining

Not too long ago, I was a Camp Director.  My days were filled with sweet dance moves, songs, and organized chaos.  One of my favorite parts of the camp day was morning assembly.  Morning assembly was the grand start to the camp day, a time for me to get the kids all wild and crazy before I handed them off to their huddle counselors for the day. My fondest memories of morning assembly was our "thought for the day" portion, where a robot named AWESOM-O (true story) danced to "Mr. Roboto" before he presented the campers with a tiny nugget of wisdom for the day.  Being the director, I had the privilege of assisting "AWESOM-O" with his "TFTD" selections.  For example, if the camp was having a problem following rules, he'd talk a quote that dealt with respectfulness.  Every summer, without fail, my favorite TFTD to fall back on was always, "every cloud has a silver lining."

Lately more than ever, I've been searching for the silver lining in life's clouds.  I think that I've become so boggled down with clouds that it's been hard for me to see what could be ahead or even within.

Take this morning for example.  I up and at 'em by 5:30 AM, which is pretty dangone early.  The super early morning wake up call was followed by one of those almost tear inducing closet sessions where all your clothes make you feel like a hippo.  I unhappily settled on the least hippo resembling outfit and headed off to start my day.

{Forgive me, I have to digress for a minute or the rest of the story won't make any sense.  I'm lucky enough to have found a home within Wilmington with the Junior League here.  For all y'all haters that read "The Help" and think you know what the League's about...quit hatin'.  I have never in my life been surrounded by so many fantastic woman...and best of all, they all get my sense of humor AND aren't stepford robots. Anywho, the League here is partnered with a local elementary school that serves a population of children that could use all the extra love we can spare.  One of the ways that we show love is by volunteering at their breakfasts.  The shifts always come way too early in the morning, but each time I go, I leave the school inspired to do more for my community.}

Walking into the cafeteria this morning, I stationed myself near the door so I could greet children as they got off the bus and worked their way into the breakfast food line.  I started with my standard lines of "Good Morning," routinely waving and smiling to each one as they got their breakfast corn dogs.  I stopped as a little girl came up beside me, checking me out from head to toe.  I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  I mean, it's early in the morning.  Sometimes I go to volunteer and kids call me out on looking like a sleepy goof.  Kids are good like that.  The girl finally looks up at me with the biggest smile on her face and says, "Hey girl, I want that outfit!"  So what if she was in third grade, it was all the reassurance I needed.  That girl, that morning, that moment was the silver lining in my dark cloud.

This post isn't really just about one single solitary compliment, although it did really turn my day around.  To put it lightly, my life lately has left me feeling like I'm on crazy pills. It's just all been too much.  I've been so run down by the bad that I've forgotten completely to look for the good.  You know, there wouldn't be any rainbows if we never had rain. (There's another TFTD for you, AWESOM-O)  And right now, even though I'm in the rain, I'm ready for that silver lining...the beautiful rainbow ahead.  And while I'm at it, I might as well get to dancing in that rain. Life's just too short to not enjoy.

xoxox,
j