Sometimes, the one bright spot in a dark sky makes all the difference.

After my run this morning, I noticed these bright red leaves, standing alone in the middle of the faded and dying field. It struck me, so I stopped and snapped it up (tough to leave much undocumented these days).

The desolate field has its own beauty, and its own purpose, like the times in our lives where things change and fall away so new things can grow. The dark things in life aren’t the bad things. Usually, they are necessary things, things that shape us.

But that one spot of bright red bursting forth in the midst of all of it? Don’t forget that you are that spot.

Let life amaze you, when everyone around you has succumbed to jaded boredom.

Startle people with your smile, even when it’s raining.

Hug someone; let go last.

Practice gratitude—out loud.

Tell people you love and appreciate them.

Be radically honest—especially with yourself.

Use that “20 seconds of insane courage” and do that thing that’s dancing around the edges of your heart, waiting to be done.

Let go of who you think you should be or who you think you want to be and be who you actually are, because when you do that, you become the bright red leaves against the dying field.

You are extraordinary.

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