Tonight, while channel surfing, I ended up stopping on Vanilla Sky for some reason. I didn't even like that movie much when I saw it in the theater, but in the few minutes that I watched it today I heard Penelope Cruz deliver the line, "every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around." And me, being the covert optimist that I am, loved hearing that. These words encourage living in joyful anticipation of possibility, rather than the fear of uncertainty. Suddenly I felt alert inside, realizing this is a belief I hold at the core of my being, but I forget about it sometimes. It's true! Every second of our lives we have the opportunity to change for the better, to take steps to let go of or remold situations that are difficult or not how we wish. We have no clue what the next moment will bring, but wonderful possibility is always at our fingertips.

And me, being me, started thinking and thinking and, well, thinking about this. I feel like, more often than not, we're so rooted in fear about what could be lost, rather than gained, in an instant that we tend to rigidly cling to what is, even if it's not that great, because we don't have the faith in our own ability to turn it all around. It's safer somehow to resign ourselves to what is than believe in or take a risk on what could be. Or, we feel stuck in each moment, forgetting that another one will arrive, and then another, and then another...until this one tiny increment of time blends seamlessly into our intricate stories. The option to really learn, love, and grow exists constantly. I don't even know where I'm going with my rambling, but I like having this idea on my mind. I've decided I'm going to make "every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around" my new mantra. I will chant it in my head for as long as I can remember. :-)