The Silver Lining in Times of Distress

I'm beginning this article on my 24th birthday on the floor of my apartment, smashed between a box of tupperware on my right and a value pack of blank canvases on my left. My couch, bed, and kitchen table are covered in piles of laundry and I can't move more than a foot without stepping on something that needs to be put away or thrown out. Why is my life in shambles? Because four days ago an HVAC pipe burst in my last apartment and flooded it entirely. Today I'm recalling this event from the new unit my building moved me to.

How have I remained so calm the past week?

The old Amanda would have gone off the deep end and put the fear of God in anyone within a 5 miles radius. The old me would have demanded to speak with the building manager and would not rest until justice was restored. But this isn't the worst thing that has ever happened to me, a minor inconvenience at that.

I hurried home from work on Monday to make it to the Whole Food's hot food station before the mad rush of downtown's finest millennials left their cubicles. When I entered my building to see gallons of water falling from the ceiling, I remembered the call I got that afternoon from the building manager asking to check on my unit for a possible pipe leak. SURELY out of the hundreds of units in this building, mine would be fine.

TLDR; wrong.

I opted for the stairs and marched myself and my dog in my suede high-heeled booties across the sea of water outside of my apartment door to find an even larger sea of water inside - along with a few pairs of shoes floating along the hallway.

That part might be a little dramatic but work with me here

Three thoughts zipped through my mind:

1. Can I still go to yoga tonight?

Sub thought: I can keep Teddy in the bathroom if it's not under water...or is that animal cruelty?

2. Is now an appropriate time to eat this meal bc hungry.

3. I definitely left my rain boots in moms car last week

I was calm and collected. I could see the mass destruction of water right in front of my eyes but it didn't register that I was in jeopardy of losing every single thing I owned. So I grabbed my snow boots from the closet and waded my way through my apartment to scope out the damage. Then I did what I thought was best to do in the situation - I ate my Whole Foods dinner at the table and called my mom.

I'll spare you the details of what followed and summarize - I stayed in a guest room for the next two nights and eventually the manager arranged for me to be moved to a new unit 10 stories above to finish out my lease.

Moving downtown to my own apartment was something I dreamed of doing since college - and I didn't except to have the means to do it so soon. I was living on the second floor of a high rise, it seems rather oxymoronic but I knew it was a starting point and that I could only go up from here. I was content but I know that I wanted a better view of the city one day.

Careful what you wish for amiright?

Why would I, of all people, having just moved in, having just finished putting all of my furniture together, living in a building of over 300 units - why would I be one of three units to flood? Haven't I been through enough lately? Finding the silver lining in times of distress has been my specialty lately, as annoying and troublesome as the week had been, this was Lauren's birthday present to me - I am sure of it.

While I'm up in arms with the belief that everything happens for a reason, I believe there is something to be learned from every experience. This is what having my apartment flood taught me:

1. Getting angry at a situation that is out of your control will not change anything.

2. Do not leave your dirty clothes on the floor of your closet when your hamper is two feet away.

3. Ask for help.

4. Classpass will refund your missed class if you tell them your apartment flooded.

5. You can live without 90% of your belongings. When life forces you to do away with many of them, do not go shopping the next day.

6. Kindness and gratitude should always be your go to war strategy... but the moment your kindness is misunderstood for foolishness, you have permission to give 'em hell.

I'm finishing this story at my writing desk, content, with glass of wine in hand. While this desk may have been warped from the water, it is overlooking the most beautiful view of the city.

Make the most of every challenge that life throws your way.