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When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!
Over the weekend, I went looking for some metaphorical sunshine, having not particularly enjoyed the bitter coldness of the past week.
I can't say I've ever been a fan of the dark mornings and afternoons in winter - give me a balmy summer's evening any day...
Finding real sunshine was a little problematic, so instead I searched for a new podcast, one with a 'happy' theme. What happened next was interesting. My search yielded a selection of musical playlists that promised to *make* me happy or - if I was already feeling euphoric - could provide a soundtrack to my day.
Not really what I wanted.
Perhaps I'd be better searching for 'uplifting' rather than 'happy'?
Scrolling a while, I came across A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek. Now Simon is an author and public speaker, so he isn't unknown to me, although his podcast is a relatively new development - a product of lockdown, when his public speaking events weren't possible.
Sinek interviewed Marissa Meizz, founder of the #nomorelonelyfriends hashtag. Marissa was contacted by a complete stranger via TikTok because he'd overheard Marissa's friends discussing - in a public place - a party, to which they didn't want Marissa to come. In fact, the date of the party was going to be coincident with a trip Marissa was going to be taking out of town, and that was no accident.
Marissa received copies of the video many, many times. How challenging this must have been! How devastating to hear those hurtful comments, let alone to be reminded of them incessantly!
Yet, incredibly, Marissa, in a display of the utmost resilience, responded to the TikTok post, met up with her informant - and invited everyone who might be seeking new friends to meet in Central Park, New York City, in June last year. 200 people showed up!
In a gathering that lasted eight or more hours, people joked, exchanged contact details, played games and chatted. Since that first event, Marissa has organised others including in San Francisco, LA, Washington, Boston and Philadelphia. They're open to anyone, and are free of charge.
I think I found my uplifting story! What a superb manifestation of the phrase,
when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
There may not have been much real sunshine this weekend, but this story definitely gave me a warm glow!
