See Good

We have a neighbor we call the “Fortune Cookie”. He is one of the happiest people I know, always spreading a good word. Sometimes I envy his outlook, but most of the time I just try and soak it up. I’ve been out of sorts lately—well not so much lately as for about the past year. I’ve been struggling to re-find myself and feel that strength, optimism and faith I used to hold so dear to my heart.

Every time I see our neighbor outside, he speaks to me. His words speak to me. I was outside with my dog a couple minutes ago and I ran into him. He asked me if I’m doing well, and I responded with a shrug and said, ‘I’m okay’. It was clear, even though my oversized sunglasses that shielded the hurt in my eyes, that I wasn’t. He asked me in his rough English, ‘You’re roommate, she has a boyfriend, no?’ ‘Yes’ I responded. ‘That make you a little jealous?’ I wish it were only something as trivial as that…

I never really opened up to him before. I always force a smile even if I’m down, and tell him everything is okay. But this morning, on this fateful day, I couldn’t fake it for him.

I explained to him the biggest of my current problems. I told him about my car accident and having to quit my job. I held it together as he said to me, ‘You see good, it will be good.’

Such a simple theory—one I used to have faith in. Although as previously stated, I’ve been low in the faith department lately. As he walked away, he said again to me with a smile, looking right at me, ‘See good.’

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the Fortune Cookie was an extension of God here on earth. His words always come with a consoling understanding and a hopeful disposition.

As of this moment, I’m going to see good. I’m going to at least fake it, until one day I wake up and truly feel good. The optimism has to shine back through at some point, why not force it for a while. It can only help…right?