Better days are coming
What do you say to somebody when they’re hurting so badly that no words actually fix it?
My Nanny used to say to me in her thick Norwegian accent:
“Better days are coming.”
And honestly?
When I was younger, it used to annoy me.
Because when you’re hurting, those words can feel empty.
Now I’m around the same age she was back then — though I definitely don’t wear curlers in my hair, polyester pants, or a housecoat like she did 😂
But somehow… now I understand her wisdom.
My Nanny came here from Norway at 37 years old without speaking English.
No driver’s license.
No fancy education.
No glamorous life.
But she knew things.
She knew how to survive.
She knew how to keep going.
She knew how to make a home feel warm with homemade food, kindness, and love.
And now that I’m older, I finally understand what she meant.
Sometimes there’s nothing you can say when somebody is hurting.
Sometimes people don’t need advice.
They don’t need fixing.
Sometimes the greatest thing you can do is just listen and sit beside them in the pain.
But when life finally brings those hard seasons around to you, eventually you realize:
better days are coming.
This too shall pass.
Life moves in cycles.
The universe requires balance.
And the way I got through it was practice.
I decided one day that I wanted to stop waiting for happiness to magically arrive and start creating it in small moments instead.
Because happiness is also a choice.
Not every second.
Not every day.
But in the little things.
In gratitude.
In healing.
In learning the lesson instead of letting it destroy you.
In focusing on the present moment instead of living trapped in the past or terrified of the future.
And one day, you wake up and realize something changed.
You survived.
You softened instead of breaking.
You made it through the storm.
Now whenever life feels heavy, I still hear her voice in my head:
“Better days are coming.”
And now instead of getting annoyed, I smile and whisper back:
“You’re right, Nanny. Thank you for reminding me.” ❤️
I speak what I become. Healing is around the corner—you just have to keep walking 💜🙏🏻
Reflecting on the phrase “better days are coming,” I’ve personally found that its power lies not just in hope itself but in the active choice to embrace healing and growth daily. When facing challenging seasons, it’s easy to feel stuck, but leaning into small practices like gratitude journaling or mindful breathing helped me create moments of peace amid chaos. My nanny’s story as an immigrant who had no formal education but survived through perseverance and love reminds me that resilience isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up every day. She taught me that making a warm home and nurturing connections can be a sanctuary even when the external world feels harsh. In my own healing journey, I learned that listening to others in pain without rushing to fix them is an act of deep kindness—the simple presence can be more powerful than advice. It’s also true that happiness doesn’t always come from grand changes but from appreciating the small joys: a good meal, a kind word, or even a quiet sunrise. When I started focusing on the present moment, rather than dwelling on past regrets or future worries, life’s heaviness lightened. The realization that challenges are temporary opened space for growth, reminding me that the universe's balance means tough times are followed by renewal. If you’re struggling, try reassuring yourself with gentle affirmations like those my nanny said, and remember: healing is a journey. By choosing to walk it step by step, you’re already moving toward those better days. Trust in your resilience, and be gentle with yourself along the way.
