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Last week I received one of the scariest phone calls EVAH!

I was at the pharmacy looking to buy a pair of pantyhose to wear to an interview later that day.

No, this is not what you think. I will not go into another story about me and socks and an interview LOL.

I was cracking jokes, to a friend, about how I need to buy nude colored tights with white women on the packages because my legs don't tan. I'm literally half white, half black. *shrugs*

My phone quacked. I answered. On the other line was the doctor. "Ms. Martínez you need to go to the emergency room immediately. Your lab results came back and the potassium levels in your blood are alarmingly high. You must go right away."

Gulp.

I said, "What does high potassium even mean?" I zoned out. All I heard her say was "...kidneys...irregular heart beat...death..."

"Well doc, I won't be able to go until tonight. I have an interview today and I can't cancel it."

In a stern, mother-like voice she told me I should reschedule my interview, that they would understand.

I started sobbing like a baby. I seriously don't remember the last time I cried like that.

It wasn't an easy decision to make, but against the advice of my family and friends (and Dr.) I decided to go to the interview first. I figured if I was going to die that day I'd die regardless of where I was. You know how many people die in hospitals? A lot.

Lately I have made a conscious effort to focus my energy on things that I have direct control over. I still care about things that I can't control, but I try not to obsess over them...too much. I'm living inside a zen bubble and I refuse to climb out.

That day I stubbornly told my friend, "If I die on my way to the interview at least I died in pursuit of my dreams." Super dramatic, I know.

But this post isn't about following your dreams. It is about how I, you, we take things for granted.

Luckily, for me, the phlebotomist made an error when drawing my blood. There isn't anything wrong with me.

When the ER nurse told me I was free to go home I was happy. That happiness lasted about 3 seconds. I then got annoyed that I had to pay so much money for a co-pay and how I wasted hours of my life away at the ER and that my Friday plans had been ruined.

Here I was, in perfect health, worrying about insignificant bullshit. Not so zen after all.

So ungrateful.

Take a moment to appreciate the wonderful things in your life. Just the fact that you're able to read is one of them.

I once had a co-worker tell me that the fact that I always find the silver lining to situations is annoying. But honestly, I don't know any other way to live.

Things could always be better, but they could also be worse.

Optimistic, hungry and hopeful,

EvelisionVision

Twinkle, twinkle LITTLE star.

All of my 20s I have known that I am impatient. I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to certain things. Meticulous.  

As I inch closer to 30 *insert horror music* I have decided to wage a war with my impatience. 

It has not been easy. 

Today I won a minor battle. 

At the post office the mailman asked me a simple question, "Would you like to add tracking to this package?"

I blinked, swallowed and in an effort to buy more time asked, "How much would that be?"

(I have a minor obsession with tracking letters and packages. Tracking them becomes a little game, but it also helps fuel my impatience.) 

He said, "$3.10." To which I replied, "Hmmmm."

I knew I had to say something, but old Evelyn was fighting new Evelyn. 

"I am trying to be more patient. I don't think tracking a package is going to help my case. Let me think about it," I said. 

He said, "Ok, think about it."

After a few seconds I said, "I'm not going to track it."

He said, "Great." 

He opened a drawer next to the cash register and gestured for me to put my hand out, "Here you go," he said. 

When I looked in my hand there were three small, green stars. They made me smile. 

Why? 

I like stars and green is my favorite color. 

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho taught me to look out for omens. Those three little stars were a sign. I looked at them as affirmation that I did the right thing. 

Shoot, it even made me read my horoscope today and I'll spare you the details, but it started off like this "Try to be patient..."

Those stars taught me something and I want to share it with you. 

What I learned from the stars:

1. BE PATIENT.  Everything will work itself out.

CAVEAT: This does not mean to sit back and do nothing in the hopes that what you want will land on your lap. What it means is that once you've done everything in your power to make something possible, sit back and wait. If it's meant to be, it'll be. 

    2. TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE. We, myself included, give others great advice but almost never apply it to our own lives. What a bunch of hypocrites! 

    3. PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL. The small things count in everything that you do. Look at how much I was able to get from three little stars. 

"ENJOY THE LITTLE THINGS, FOR ONE DAY YOU MAY LOOK BACK AND REALIZE THEY WERE THE BIG THINGS." -Robert Brault