Best/Worst

There are moments in our life that are both the best and the worst.

Think of attending a funeral for a close family member or friend—the end of life is sad and feels like one of the worst times. However, funerals also bring family and friends together, and those reunions can be so sweet. I was reminded of this idea years ago when my cousins and I were laughing so hard at a beloved uncle’s funeral. It is the best and the worst.

Sometimes, the best and worst times are different events but occurring at the same time. One of these happened about a year ago.

For the past decade or so, our lives in the spring of each year revolve around dance competitions. 2024 was no different. We were headed to our first competition of the year and my college-bound daughter was devastated. She had just received disappointing news about one of her top schools. It was truly the worst. She was heartbroken, and we were as well. The news traveled fast amongst the studio, and while well-intentioned, every comment or question brought unwelcome, bitter tears.

It was so hard.

But the competition was here, so she had to keep going. This particular weekend was also the debut of my three girls dancing a trio. I was excited to see it. The three of them dancing on stage together, with perfect choreography and humor, lifted my spirits. They killed it! Even the judges loved it, as it took first place. YES!! It was the best moment.

The best and the worst.

The trick is being able to recognize those best moments. No one needs help with the worst ones—they are easy to identify and even easier to dwell on. You can quickly turn a bad moment into a bad day, a bad week, a bad year, and even a bad life. Don’t do this. The worst moments are simply that…a moment. Open your eyes and try to identify the best times. They are there, even in the midst of the worst.