Yesterday, in a therapy group, we talked about silver linings, which are
the hopeful side of a situation that might seem gloomy on the surface. The common expression “every cloud has a silver lining” means that even the worst events or situations have some positive aspect.
The silver linings we talked about in group included the dark clouds of traumatic events which had made people stronger, more resilient, and grateful for the gifts of the present.
I found my own silver linings in that group: I couldn’t write important themes up on the white board because of my torn rotator cuff so one of the group participants wrote those lines instead, which meant
- more group engagement and
- better hand-writing.
I was so pleased with these silver linings that I said,”Now I’m glad I hurt my arm.” At first the group said, in unison, “No you’re not!” but that led to more valuable discussions about silver linings.
I want to underline this about silver linings: I’m a person who can find a silver lining in my own painful injuries, but I can NOT find silver linings in another horrific assault-weapon massacre in the U.S. Maybe I can’t find silver linings there because nothing seems to disperse or lessen the cloud of gun violence in the United States.
When my only child decided to go to the University of Edinburgh I easily found this silver lining: no school shootings in Scotland.
What are your thoughts and feelings about silver linings? Can you find any silver linings in my other photos?
I have a silver lining of hope that people will change their thoughts and change the world .
There’s a “Silver Lining” by Rilo Kiley on YouTube.
Here’s my silver lining of gratitude for all who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — for YOU.
I love this post, Ann. Thank you for sharing. My kids will sometimes challenge their friends to “throw Mom a dark cloud” so that I can find the silver lining. It’s sort of hobby of mine. I love silver linings, don’t you?
I love silver linings, Micki, and I love this comment!
You are good at silver linings, Ann. Thanks for your aptitude.
You are good, Mark. Thanks for that.
I was once told that every silver lining has a cloud, to which I replied that my cloud also had rainbows. 🙂
I love that reply!
Thank you. I love rainbows, they always make me smile and feel good.
Good idea. I will try to change some thoughts.
Thanks for changing the world, Maureen.
Thank you for sharing this post of Silver Linings. Been going through a patch myself this past month and I will definitely put more focus on the silver linings and positive aspects, even if there are slivers of silver! Again, thanks…a million!
Thank you for sharing. Even a sliver of silver helps! ❤
Perhaps the phrase sometimes is just wishful thinking
Perhaps, Derrick.
Our life do also have a silver line, Ann 🙂
About the shootings in US, the responsible for the weapon laws in US should look against countries, where there are no school shootings and see why: Weapons are not allowed for all, not difficult. No easy weapons – no shootings.
Great lines, Irene.
The mass shooting that happened yesterday in FL high school is so horrible. I wish this kind of crazy act stop. However, I love the idea behind “Silver lining” it would be nice to find something positive even in the bad situation. 🙂
I share your wish. Thank you for this nice comment!
My pleasure. I wish you an amazing weekend 🙂
It sometimes takes a while to find the silver lining, but it always appears eventually. A few years ago, I had to change jobs unwillingly, thanks to being harassed by a male colleague, but if it wasn’t a person I met in my new job, I wouldn’t be a published author right now!
Great silver lining!!!
Even though I have a tendency to find, or at least try to find, the bright side to everything it’s also important to keep the proper perspective. So far mass shootings have failed to prompt any kind of positive change toward preventing more from happening. If this one, or, as much as it hurts to say it, if the next one, or the one after that, or a later one finally does cause a change that will be a silver lining, but the cloud of so many needless deaths will still be with us.
Your comments are pure gold, Chris.