It seems like quite a bit has happened since I last wrote in this spot, because, well, quite a bit has happened since I last wrote in this spot. So much happened that I found it difficult to find something new to say, especially something that didn’t feel depressing to say.

But then – fried chicken to the rescue!

All right, well, this cannot only be about fried chicken, because life unfortunately never can be that wonderful. I did, however, come across this article from inc.com about people (including Colonel Harland Sanders) who were fired from a job and used that experience as a pivot point to then propel themselves to new heights. Then I realized that this might be just the type of story we need now.

Traveling through the last year has been tumultuous to say the least. It has been the type of road that results in victories being counted when one can stay the course more than attain any new achievements. So we may do well to give good attention to these times where someone went from a sudden low spot and used it send themselves upward.

Currently, the light at the end of the tunnel seems to have been held largely in place for a while. There have been times in the last four to six weeks when it felt we were approaching it, but it still sits in a spot in the future that feels untouchable. Even if it feels like we are on a treadmill when it comes to getting to that light, though, maybe we can still make it shine a little brighter from afar.

So read stories about people like Colonel Sanders who apparently went from places that involved courtroom fistfights and eventually (with a recipe of 11 herbs and spices) got to a point where he owned multiple restaurants that he sold for a tidy sum by the time he was ready to walk away.

Dream big, reach high. There may be no better time than one of despair to chase what thrills your imagination. When life is on a steady course, it can be difficult to find the time, energy, or drive to chase that thing in the back of your mind you have always wanted to do. It feels like taking such a chance with large chances of failure. Tough times can offer the possibility to give it that time and attention, though, because there is nowhere to go but up. So here is to my hope that these trying months churn out people now prepped to do even greater things than fry some chicken.

Because if they are doing better than that, then you know it is something really good.