Finding The Upside...

 

Hi!

Sometimes it's hard to discern whether a storm is brewing or clearing. 

Which one you are hoping for will depend on where you are and the circumstances in which you find yourself. 

You may need rain, and are more than willing to put up with the howling wind, crashing thunder, and dangerous lightning that comes with it because, well, it's the way it is. Sometimes that's how the rain you need comes, you can't control in what way or how much you get. 

You may be satiated, drenched, on the verge of being flooded, and the very LAST thing you need is more rain, let alone the crap that can come with it. It feels like if one more single drop falls, it will simply be too much, the ground will collapse beneath you, and you will disappear. 

So, whether you are desperate for rain, or are holding on by your fingertips as you wait for the storm to clear, you, meaning all of us, have to come to understand that we have zero control over the storms, their intensity, how long they last or the level of replenishment or damage it provides. 

But...

Because we know storms are inevitable, we can prepare. If something huge is coming over the horizon, we can batten down the hatches, tie things down, put things under shelter... prepare. If it's a simple shower coming with a bit of an umbrella and some boots, we can dance in the puddles, making the best of it. Finding the upside. 

Of course, there are storms that come out of nowhere, without warning. They blindside us, and can do damage that can feel impossible to come back from. The trauma caused by storms like this is impossible to get through alone. Family, friends, and communities come together to help each other through. Finding, even though it is so incredibly difficult to find, the upside.

Recovering from brutal storms takes time. Rushing, or trying to cut corners rarely works. You just have to do the work.

Your personal storms are unlike those of anyone else. How you are prepared or wired to handle them is also unique. It can be anything from a bloody nose to a cancer diagnosis. It can be the loss of a job, or the loss of a loved one. It can be a flat tire or a crippling car accident. It can be a pimple on prom day, or a near-fatal heart attack.

I think both the blessing and the curse are that we don't get to choose when or where or how severe our storms might be. We can make choices to mitigate what we can. We can eat healthily, do everything we can to avoid addictions, move our bodies, and be kind, not only to others, but to ourselves as well. 

So....

Prepare by making the best choices you can for yourself. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Do your best to find the upside, even, and maybe especially when you need time to do so. 

At the end of the day we are here to do the best be can with the time we are given. In dark times time can seem to stand still, in bright times it seems to fly by at lightning speed. But, literally, if we are very lucky, we get to walk this planet for several decades. 

The global average life expectancy is about 74 years. That's 3848 weekends. How are you choosing to spend them?

I hope in a never-ending search for the upside. 

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May you, when hit by the worst, reach out, reach up, just reach until you feel the hand of someone reaching back.

May you see that you're worth the work it takes to recover, no matter the damage, you can, with help and time, get on track. 

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