Worst-Case Scenarios Aren’t Always That Bad

Worst case scenarios aren’t always that bad.

When I was laid off following my divorce and just before the pandemic hit, I was living in a little cottage in rural Arkansas. Starting over from scratch.

No dishwasher, no tv, no social media…

My entertainment was a bird feeder, my dad’s old records, watching the wildflowers grow, and mid-day walks to the lake shore where I tried to teach myself how to skip rocks.

What I lacked in possessions I made up for with my inner world.

I thought a lot, read a lot, wrote a lot.

But I was also in pretty rough shape emotionally.

Looking back, this period of my life might be best characterized by the famous Dickens opening line: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

Worries about finances were common, but I enjoyed beautiful sunsets every night.

Anxiety about finding a job kept me up at night, but my dogs were there to comfort me.

Loneliness often drove me to tears, but my daughter’s sweet invitations to play “restaurant” brought a smile to my face.

It was a period of pain, turmoil, self discovery and, ultimately, peace.

As some of you know, this is when I began offering my writing online. It was a significant decision for me, as my lifelong dream has been to write in a way that contributes something meaningful to this world.

Through this decision, I’ve built a business, made connections, and discovered new paths for myself.

But still, even now, at the end of the day (most days) all I wish to do is to write. It feels like my most authentic expression.

And, sometimes, I long for those days when it was all a little easier, even though it felt harder.

Interesting how that works. 💫

For anyone who is in a "worst case scenario" - please, keep going. It gets better.