Weathering Life’s Storms

It’s been one of those weeks for me.  One of the dreadful sort that started out awful, and somehow managed to end worse.  Have you ever had one of those?  Well as much as I hate to say it, (and I’ll certainly not say it too loud) I have learned to appreciate them for a few reasons:

1. I am forced to slow down.
2. In slowing down I suddenly see my life with increased clarity and perspective, which gives me the foresight to make necessary adjustments and get myself back on track.

Life, for me, seems to be a lot like that great big sky above us—completely unpredictable.  Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, those winds begin to blow and suddenly it’s raining on your parade.

Though we have zero control over that heavy, gray, cloud-filled sky when it decides to open up and pour its torrential rains upon us, I do believe we can choose how we are going to answer.  Will we choose to shake our fists in anger and hang our heads as we slog away, cold, drenched… defeated?  Or will we go throw on a pair of galoshes, grab our best umbrella and weather the storm until that glorious moment arrives when those first rays of sun burst through those empty clouds and we stand beneath that spectacular rainbow in awe, and with a sense of gratitude for what we’ve just experienced?

A few weeks ago a loved one forwarded an article on to me; a series of short questions/personal discoveries about everyday life, and the way we choose to go about living it.  Ever since I read through it, I’ve truly pondered on it, especially this week.  It’s amazing how sometimes it’s the simple truths that help bring that picture back into focus.  I wish I knew who authored it.  Along with giving her credit due, I would love to give her a giant hug and tell how her poignant message has greatly influenced my life.  Among many other things, it has made me want to be more of a “seize the moment friend.”

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to look for my galoshes and a good umbrella.

On second thought, forget the umbrella…

I’m sure that rainbow is just around the bend.

But before I go, I’d like to leave you with her article.

It’s titled Words to Ponder.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have it on their schedule, didn’t know it was coming, or are too rigid to depart from their routine.
I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I’ve tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn’t suggest going out to dinner until after something had already been thawed? Does the word ‘refrigeration’ mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk, and sat in silence while you watched ‘Jeopardy’ on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and asked, “How about going to lunch in a half hour?” She would gas up and stammer, “I can’t. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday. I had a late breakfast. It looks like rain.” And my personal favorite, “It’s Monday.” She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves for when all the conditions are perfect. We’ll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We’ll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We’ll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to our selves gets longer. One morning, we awake and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of “I’m going to,” “I plan on,” and “Someday, when things settle down a bit.”

When anyone calls my ’seize the moment’ friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you’re ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It’s just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry- go-round

Or listened to the rain lapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

Do you run through each day on the fly?

When you ask “How are you?” Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores running through your head?

Ever told your child, “We’ll do it tomorrow.” and in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Made a phone call, just call to say Hi?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift….

Thrown away.

Life is not a race. Take it slower.

Hear the music before the song is over.

Now…go on, forget your troubles, and have yourself a lovely day.  Do something you really WANT to do…not something on your ‘SHOULD DO’ list.

Shared this post with chatting at the sky, serious inspiration awaits you over there.