Silver lemons

Before 300,000 people died of Covid-19, before we all spent 10 months isolated from friends and loved ones, I thought life could be hard. Back then, I saw silver linings everywhere. Now I see silver lemons.

When I lost a job, I landed clients and Flamingo Strategies was born. When I crashed the car, my rental was a Mustang convertible. When I was hit on my scooter, I was grateful for the lessons I learned.

I’m still a believer that every setback brings potential. That every silver lemon has its juice.

Recently I ignored my gut and went headlong after a full-time gig I wasn’t sure I wanted. When I didn’t get it, I was super salty. My ego was bruised.

But I also was relieved. Because in exchange for that paycheck, other doors would have slammed shut. My van life would be compromised and I’d have to wear shoes.

To help get over the sting, I thanked the tricky Stoic gods for tossing yet another obstacle in my way. And I remembered my relative insignificance in the grand scheme of things.

Friends praised me for making lemonade out of lemons—yet again.

Since Covid, we’ve all been drinking more. Wine. Whiskey. Bone broth. Coffee. And tea.

And lots and lots of lemonade. We load the sour juice with sugar. Then we water it down. Anything to make it taste better.

And that’s a good thing. Because lemons are part of life. And despite our high hopes, the bitterness we feel won’t automatically go away when it turns 2021.

It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m about to crack open the bubbly. I think I’ll add a bit of juice from a silver lemon. Maybe just a drop.

So, cheers, my friends. May 2021 bring silver lemons for us all.

And if the juice tastes sour, let’s just pucker up and keep going.