Your use of metaphor in looking for a positive (or a silver lining) in any situation, and trusting that 'this too shall pass' is a great acknowledgement of the cycles constantly revolving in our lives.
Another good example that any situation can offer an exercise in personal development. :)
Around the world in a Jewel ... That's the challenge that artist David Weitzman has successfully taken up when designing his jewels. From the Egyptian Ankh to the Tibetan Aum, each jewel is based on a powerful symbol of life and (inner) peace, spanning different cultures and times.