Why do life lessons take so long? 
What I have finally come to learn – after many years of not getting it – is that bad times do not last forever. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, a brighter day, more joy to be found. When we are in the middle of heartbreak, a calamity, bad times, or financial hardship, it’s hard to see that light shining so far off in the distance when there are black clouds covering your head.
When we are young, we are so short sighted we can only see the pain of the moment and for some reason we just can’t see the other side. As I’ve gotten older and been through so much, I can now realize the difficult time I’m going through will pass if I can just hang on and hold on to hope and faith a little longer.
When my daughter died many years ago, I didn’t think there was any way I could have a future that included joy or happiness or fun. I came very, very close to ending my life because every breath I took was filled with so much pain the only thing in front of me what the next moment of anguish and heartache. Today I know that I would have missed my first daughter’s miraculous life, I would never have known my son. I would never have experienced the unbelievable joy of grandchildren, and so many other small moments that I am grateful for. Through it all I have laughed more than I have cried – and I have cried a lot.
Hang on just a little bit longer. Just take the next breath and then the next. The pain diminishes; the sun shines a little brighter, the black cloud does go away. You even find the ability to laugh again. The only wisdom I have to share to get through difficult times is to keep breathing and believe that this too shall pass. I hope you get the lesson sooner than later. There is more joy waiting for you.
