My life has always consisted of random inconveniences, especially when it comes to my health. When I tell my brother that something crazy, poorly timed, or just flat-out strange has happened to me, his response is, “Of course that happened to you. That’s the most Lizo thing to ever happen.” There was a point 10 years ago when these inconveniences would stress me out and anger me, which was probably partly to do with the fact that my faith was non-existent at the time. Now, when these inconveniences happen, I’m the first one to laugh. For the first time, I am in a really strong place of consolation. This consolation has given me patience and happiness that I never thought I would have, even in moments of stress and pain. As cliche as it is, I’ve become much more of a “glass half full” kind of girl.

Back in the fall, my friend and I wanted to go to the Cliffs of Moher. Without a car, we decided we would train to Galway, stay the night in Galway, bus from Galway to Doolin, taxi to the Cliffs, and then train back to Galway the following morning. It was a hectic plan, to say the least. The only issue is that I get aggressively car sick. I popped a Dramamine a half hour before our bus ride to ensure that it kicked in on time. An hour into the drive I start feeling a little wonky, so I decided to do a guided Examen. That helped calm me down so I listened to another one of Fr. James Martin’s podcasts, but I quickly found myself dumping the contents of my tote bag onto my friend’s lap and puking into the bag. The roads in the west of Ireland are not ideal for someone who gets carsick. Getting off the bus wasn’t an option unless we wanted to be stranded without phone service. Completely overwhelmed, I continued to pray the Examen. It reminded me that God was with me in that moment of sheer anxiety. He was with me in Hannah’s calming presence. He was sitting there laughing with me as a ton of kids hopped on the bus and started playing their tin whistles. Being able to laugh at the ridiculousness of that moment helped distract me from the sheer discomfort I was in.

That entire day showed the beauty of life. If you go into each day knowing that you are grateful for God’s presence in your life, it allows you to handle the endeavors of each day. When we found out all the taxi drivers in Doolin were on holiday, we decided to bike to the cliffs, which is approximately an hour-long bike ride completely uphill. As insane as this idea was, it was absolutely incredible because we got to appreciate the beauty of the Irish coast. We were hauling back on our bikes to catch a ferry to Inisheer and got absolutely drenched through our rain jackets. So we’re sitting on a ferry, soaked to our bones, and trying not to get seasick as we roll over waves the size of three-story buildings, and Hannah goes, “well this is good for the plot.” We burst out in laughter.

All of these minor inconveniences would’ve ruined my day in the past. My lack of patience and ability to see things through a positive view made my life miserable. I’m so much happier now because I get to appreciate the gifts God has given me, even the absolutely crazy ones. Examens have given me a consistent mindset of seeing the glass half full. Seeing God’s presence in all moments is crucial for getting out of a state of desolation, and I plan to continue this practice to mature my gratitude for God.