It Didn't "Happen for a Reason"

Everything Happens
Emily McDowell

Please let me
be the first
to punch
the next person
who tells you
everything happens
for a reason.

I love this.

From McDowell's website:

When a bad thing happens, like cancer or death, the last thing the person going through it wants to hear is "everything happens for a reason." Maybe eventually, with time and distance, this becomes more appropriate. But not immediately.

I couldn't agree more. We make the meaning in our lives. We can find meaning in betrayal, by using the experience as impetus to learn more about ourselves, our partner, our marriage, our other relationships. Maybe we learn we are capable of forgiving what once seemed unforgivable. Maybe we learn that we need to get out of a toxic situation. Maybe we learn to more fully appreciate our family, friends, and other members of our support system. Maybe we learn to be more grateful for what we used to take for granted. Maybe we learn what we need and what we can live without. Maybe we learn that we are far stronger than we ever imagined.

But none of that means the betrayal happened for a reason - to blithely toss out this platitude negates all of the incredibly difficult work we have to do create meaning, to make the silver linings outshine the grey cloud.

Buy this card here.