Every cloud has a silver lining.

My mom always says, “Every cloud has a silver lining,” and back then, I really didn’t believe her. Take sixth-grade camp, for example. I was dreading it from the moment I found out I had to go.I tried everything to get out of it, but my mom wasn’t having it. She made me go, and of course, it turned out to be a nightmare. I spent most of the week in tears, and my mom even got a couple of phone calls from my teacher. If there was ever a cloud over my head, that week was it.

But the moment I saw my mom waiting for me when I came back, I was so relieved, I could've burst into tears all over again–this time from happiness. She didn’t give me a lecture or ask about my miserable week. Instead, she drove me straight to my favorite bakery, where I could forget all about camp. I remember feeling a rush of comfort and relief, like that bakery was my silver lining, just as my mom always said there would be. 

Looking back, I realize how much that moment with my mom taught me. She wasn’t just trying to cheer me up with a bakery trip–she was showing me that even when things feel impossible, there’s always something good to be found if you look hard enough. It’s a lesson I didn't fully get at the time, but now I see that the silver linings are often hidden in unexpected places. And now, whenever I face a tough situation, I remember her words and trust that there’s something better waiting for me on the other side.

If you ever need a daily reminder to look for the good, A Year of Positive Thinking by Cyndie Spiegel is one of my favorite books. It’s filled with simple, uplifting reflections that help shift your mindset—especially on the days that feel like sixth-grade camp all over again.