Clouds gather overhead. They thicken, culminating into pure darkness.

From the caliginosity, a spark is born. The spark is nurtured until it reaches its precipice. It is too much for the darkness to handle. Suddenly, it escapes the clutches of the gloominess. In wondrous fashion, the spark has evolved into a towering lightning bolt, and, with a thunderous crackle, strikes the earth below it. It’s a beautiful phenomenon, an instance of the Circle of Life, which happens in the blink of an eye. The bolt is born; the bolt is gone. Just like that.

Yet, not all of Earth’s inhabitants find the allure of this wonder. Sometimes, the death of the bolt kindles the creation of another spark. That spark catches wind and erupts into scattered embers amongst the dry earth. Just as your first blink missed the life and death of the booming bolt, your second blink misses the ensuing chaos of a sudden wildfire. Citizens, frantically filled with adrenaline, rush to salvage what they can in a moment’s notice. Onlookers, with mouths gaping, stare in horror. How could something so beautiful birth something so savage?

Stand back from the situation. Rid your bias. Rid your emotional attachment to the incident.

Now what do you witness? Are you still focused on the disparity, or do you behold its true beauty?

Some choose to only pay attention to the pandemonium of natural disaster. Some, afflicted with mental illness, are forced into this perspective.

Yet, those gifted with expansive vision are able to see the grace garnered by the plight. While there is a fire marching towards massive destruction, as though it was led by the ghost of William Sherman himself, preventative measures take place. Brave men and women of the community rally together to combat what seems like a David and Goliath-like fight. If they’re unable to deflate it, they at least direct it to where the least amount of damage will arise. Mother Nature then hears the Earth and its inhabitants’ pleas for mercy, and she devises a plan to extinguish the flames. She conjures up a storm, similar to that started this whole incident, which weeps for the fire to sleep. And it does. It listens.

Those affected by the fire are lifted up by the community in their hard times. They will go on, and their earthly losses will be reconciled in time; but, they may have lost something they cannot replace, whether it be a memento, a pet, or a loved one. Simultaneously, the Earth begins its reconstruction. The scorched ground is unsightly, yet fruitful, and the forestry will grow back even more lush and vibrant with time. The wildlife will refurnish their territory. The world will return to balance, and even stronger before.

I’m not saying wildfires are great; I send my condolences out to anyone that has been affected. I was in Bondurant, Wyoming — just miles from the origin — when the Cliff Creek fire broke out. It is still raging up in the alpines, and well over 30,000 acres, contained until snowfall, experts say. I saw the pure panic and mobilization of Bondurant’s community. Such a small town mustered so much strength, it was a truly life-changing experience.

That’s how we have to view tragedy.

We have to be alert of the fact that pain is in store for the near future, but fortitude will rise from the ashes. We must only be aware that misery happens for our benefit. Without it, would we appreciate the beauty of the world? Would we appreciate the joys of life?

The bountiful tears fallen from my eyes in the wake of my sister’s suicide has rewarded me with immense appreciation for my family that remains, and greater literacy of mental health. Quitting my job in the midst of uncertainty led to a far more opportunistic occupation that I find true joy partaking in. My parents’ divorce when I was younger changed my surroundings for the better, and expanded my amazing family even further.

Out of darkness, light will prevail. Whatever your beliefs are, believe in a better tomorrow. Believe that the world is opportunistic, not tragic. Believe in love and hope, not hatred and animosity. When mankind is roused by holistic, beneficial ideology, great things have been accomplished. Greater than any holy war, any terrorist attack, any loss of loved ones. Civilizations are built, role models are molded, and from death comes life.

This is the way I will continue living my life. I have to in order to respect the loss of my sister, and other loved ones. It is the way I’ll continue to preach. It is the way I strive to exemplify for others. It is the way that will lead us through tiring hardships. It is the way the light will be born out of darkness.

Read Bryson’s first story here!

Within today’s world, business is extremely difficult.

It seems as if we have created most anything and it is becoming increasingly more difficult for people to stand-out in our society. However, author Seth Godin poses that in today’s world, we have an extremely rare opportunity: to bring people together. In his work Tribes, Godin suggests that people are ultimately looking to connect with others who have similar beliefs, interests, and experiences and make lasting connections. I witnessed this phenomenon personally, although I did not realize it at the time.

During high school, I embarked upon an extremely difficult goal. At the same time that I was seeking a Division I golf scholarship and was enrolled in the most challenging high school in the Midwest, I decided to take a school project to an entirely new level. This was when my company Fashion With a Passion was born.

As a part of my high-school curriculum, I was required to create my own project that combined the elements of Creativity, Action, and Service.

Being the over-achiever that I am, I wanted to not only make my school proud of my project, but also find a way to give-back to the community that supported me in every way. This was when I allowed my creative juices to flow. I ultimately decided to start my own handbag company that combined my love for fashion, passion for life, and motivation to make a difference in the community. With the mentoring of my cousin who was a fellow handbag designer, I designed, marketed, and brought my signature “TLC Bag” to the local spotlight.

My company was centered around the Donate Life campaign. As I am the daughter of an organ recipient and the niece of an organ donor, I wanted to give-back to the community that gave my dad the gift of vision. Not only did I strive to raise money for the foundation, but I also sought to increase the amount of donors in my community and change the negative stigma of organ donation. Through my hard work, I quickly attracted attention and was featured in various local magazines, newsletters, radio shows, and even made a TV appearance. After my appearances in the local media, the project immediately took-off and I sold-out of my entire inventory within a week. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I wasn’t selling purses; I was assembling a tribe.

According to Godin, humans long to connect to one another and form “tribes,” which was what happened during my project.

Looking back, my supporters weren’t looking to buy a purse, but were instead looking to connect with other people whose lives had been affected by organ donation and join a movement bigger than themselves. As a part of Fashion With a Passion, I made it a point to let others share their stories with me on the phone and on my website, allowing for a support network to form within my company. This was the true core of my business because it allowed everyone to share their stories and it showed everyone that they are a part of a greater community. Although this tribe was bonded by tragedy, it was strong nonetheless.

Although I reached my fundraising goals, I eventually concluded the project with a much bigger impact than I had ever anticipated. Not only did this experience teach me how to run a company, it also allowed me and others to connect with a greater community whose lives had been touched by organ donation. Through hearing the stories of others and sharing my own, I gained a stronger appreciation for life and eventually went-on to achieve all of my goals both inside and outside of the company. Perhaps the biggest lesson that I learned through this project is that tribes can assemble anywhere, out of both the greatest miracles and through the worst tragedies.

All a tribe needs is one person who is willing to assemble them, and together, they are unstoppable.