While I’ve painted a rather bleak picture so far (my apologies, again), it’s not all doom and gloom. Moments of unexpected joy among the anxieties and self-criticism. These are fleeting glimmers of light that pierce through the darkness. These moments are often small, seemingly insignificant, but they carry a disproportionate amount of weight.

The perfect cup of coffee on a crisp morning is the right moment. It is also the unexpected warmth of the sun on my skin. A genuine laugh shared with a friend does do the trick. A particularly beautiful piece of music can be perfect as well. Or it is simply the act of witnessing a small act of kindness. These moments arrive unannounced. They catch me off guard. They have the power to momentarily silence the hum of worry. They quiet the inner critic.

The challenge is to truly notice these moments, to savor them, to allow them to fully penetrate my consciousness. I overthink, which can sometimes overshadow these glimmers. My brain moves on to the next potential problem before I’ve had a chance to fully appreciate the current joy.

But when I do manage to be here, I fully immerse myself in these moments. They remind me that even in the midst of the struggle, there is still beauty and goodness to be found. They are the tiny sparks that keep me going, the glimmers of hope that suggest the darkness isn’t all-encompassing.