“Everything is OK”: Look for signs when you need them

Lately, life has been chaotic for me… to say the least. We have all experienced periods like this - when everything seems to fall apart. And I am not even talking about major disasters or crises. I mean weeks, even months, when things just feel odd and out of control. It’s like one thing comes after another and makes you want to scream into a pillow.

Today was one of those days for me. After most of my plans and dreams have crashed lately, today I broke a glass cabinet door while cleaning. I know this is not such a big deal, but when things already feel fragile, incidents like that can shake your world and make you feel helpless. 

This is exactly how I felt when I put the broken glass door in a bag and took a walk to a glazier nearby. I didn’t know where the office was, nor if they were any good. I had only done some quick Google research before going there. 

After a 40-minute walk in the sun and heat, I finally found the glazier - I was already feeling desperate, angry, sweaty, and hungry. At least the office had air conditioning and a cool breeze. The woman who worked there took the broken glass, smiled at me, and said: “I will make you a new one in a minute. Do you want a coffee while you wait?” It was very kind of her, and for the first time that day, I felt a little hope, even though the broken glass symbolized some of my broken dreams. I sat with the coffee, and just in front of me there was a sign. In beautiful red letters it read: “Everything is OK!” The woman said the sign was a gift from a friend of hers. In 10 minutes, my glass was ready - brand new, unbroken, and she even managed to put the door handle exactly where it was supposed to be. 

And just like that, in less than 10 minutes, my life felt hopeful again. Because the sign said: “Everything is OK!” You can’t argue with that. I smiled and thanked her. The rest of the story is not important - I managed to carry the new glass home without breaking it. This time I took the bus, and when I was getting off, a kind woman even gave me a hand so I could step down safely. 

What I am trying to say with this not-so-deep story is that you should look for signs. They are always there when you need them, and they will definitely make you feel better. One of my favorite authors, Mel Robbins, once had an interesting challenge - look for hearts. Every time she went out, she was specifically looking for heart shapes, and she always found some. I tried her challenge, and guess what - the hearts were there when I needed them too, as a town square decoration.  

So today I am passing on the challenge: go out and look for signs. I am sure they are waiting for you to notice them. And maybe, just for now… they are enough to make you feel better!