Optimism: No Straps, Four Arms (with Added Commentary)

Alma 27:18 - "Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness."

So yesterday, the crew went to go sell our plasma. After we were wrapped up and finished, one of my fellows requested that we go to Home Depot so we could procure him a giant white board alternative. It was agreed upon, and so off we went.

Now, my friend wanted the biggest, baddest white board around. My car is one of the dinkiest around. So, despite our suggestions that he, perhaps, buy a more modestly-sized board, he stuck to his guns and went for it all. We, his fellows, shrugged our shoulders, figuring we'd make it work either way.

Well, despite any optimism, the board was far bigger than the inside of the car. We debated, for a while, what we should do.

After we had it, we snapped the first of many pictures.

Then, piling into the car, we all positioned ourselves with our non-punctured arms next to the windows. Reaching out, we each grabbed one of the corners, keeping our precious limbs exposed to the blistering cold. Then, with a gung-ho attitude, we were off.

I tried to take a selfie of what we looked like as we drove, but after I dropped my phone about nine times and ran into three mailboxes, I gave up, so you'll have to imagine it. Regardless, it's pretty simple. One tiny grey intrepid, a white board precariously perched on top. Four rapidly-bluing arms, hanging on for dear life. Though we lost all function in our exposed arms for several hours, it was a trip totally worth it, for our laughs and pain prompted much fodder for fond memories later.

It was true that three of us had not signed the whole 'voluntary misery' contract before we jumped in the car that fateful morning, and any of us could have harbored grudges or frustration either over the possibly construed conscription or the annoyance prompted by the weather itself. But we didn't. Rather than dwell on the trial itself, we dwelt on the future and what we would learn and/or appreciate.

Life is sometimes bleak. Life is sometimes grand. I firmly believe it can be more of the latter rather than the former when we remember that everything is for but a moment. Sadness always falls to happiness. This, I know.

Love you guys! See you again tomorrow!

I wrote a commentary about this post on November 12, 2015. Click here to read!