Speaking on the podcast This Life of Mine with James Corden, actor Richard E. Grant shared what his wife—voice coach Joan Washington—had said to him and their daughter four days before she died of lung cancer: "I know you're going to be sad, but I challenge you both to try and find a pocketful of happiness in each day once I'm gone." Grant says that the statement didn't make an impact on him at the time. Indeed, he thought of it as something one might read in a Hallmark card. But subsequent to his wife's death, Grant adopted her idea as a mantra, using it to navigate his life. He says that his wife's statement gives people who are grieving licence to feel joy and happiness despite the fact that their loved one is gone. He suggests that "Trying to find something in the ordinary that's extraordinary will give you a boost."

I stumbled upon the clip of Corden's interview with Grant this morning. Then this afternoon, I listened to an episode of The Imperfects podcast featuring Dr. Julia Baird, who researches awe, wonder, grace and forgiveness. When hosts Ryan Shelton and Hugh van Cuylenburg ask Baird what awe is, she describes it as something that stops you in your tracks—something that you marvel at. She notes that there's a body of research on the subject of awe that finds that the more exposure you have to awe, the calmer and more content you are, the more connected you feel to others, and the more altruistic you are.

Baird notes that it's not necessary to go to the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls or the Taj Mahal to experience awe. You can find it in your garden, in nature, in sun rises and sunsets, in birds, in other human beings. You can find it in music, architecture and sports. While going through a difficult time (Baird has survived cancer four times) she took up ocean swimming, which offered many opportunities to experience awe. She realized that the activity was giving her strength. She says, "You need to find what makes you strong, and you need to pursue that."

For me, one of the things that inspires awe, that I find extraordinary and that gives me strength is friendship. This morning, I had coffee with a friend, who is one of the most attentive listeners I know. She began by asking me about my trip to Wrexham and remained enthralled as I enthusiastically recounted the details of my get-away. She followed this up with more questions. And when we had exhausted that topic, she moved on to questions about my breast reconstruction surgery—expressing empathy and interest. In turn, I asked about what was going on in her life, which was just as fascinating to me as I believe my updates were to her.

Some days, it can be difficult to find even a modicum of happiness and hope in what can feel like a dreary world. Identify what gives you strength and chase that. Find the awe-inspiring things that stop you in your tracks. And when you stumble upon the extraordinary in the ordinary, stuff a little in your pocket and pull it out when you need help getting through a difficult time.