Amid The Storm
“ I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship.”
Image Credit @catalium
We've all been there amid the storm, both literally and figuratively: the ferocious rainstorm that seemed never ending with raging torrents of water eliciting fear of drowning, the blinding blizzard making it impossible to see the front end of your car, not to mention the vehicles ahead of you; the enormous tornado cloud that surely brought a run-away train with it along with damaging wind and flying objects leaving both humans and structures battered...all storms that were potentially life-threatening and something you didn't want to be part of.
We've all been there amid the storm: the painful deterioration of a relationship, life-changing transitions resulting in the loss of one's identity and sense of purpose, the terror of a cancer diagnosis and treatment options.
We've all been there. I'm there now...amid the storm. This isn’t my first storm; I've been through others…hailstorms and rainstorms, blizzards, more tornadoes than I want to recall, and numerous life-changing events. Some required minor adjustments, but a few storms were more significant and impactful than others.
My first significant "storm" was when I was in my 40s. At the time, my coping strategies were few. Still, I learned about and began to use helpful tools that kept me afloat: deep breathing, progressive relaxation, visualization, partializing, reframing, thought-stopping, solitude, and distraction, to name a few. They continue to be my companions through the years.
The next significant "storm" came in my 60s. While holding onto my previously learned strategies, I learned the importance of intentionality vs reactivity this time. I learned I had some control. I learned I didn't have to sacrifice who I was because no one had the right to determine my life story. It was a huge breakthrough for me. I learned the benefits of therapeutic drumming, mindfulness meditation, mantras, nature therapy, expressive writing, and meditative coloring. All were valuable lessons and techniques.
My third significant "storm" is now...in my 70s. I'm already learning so much. I've learned two things so far – first, gratitude is essential: focusing on what I have vs. what I've lost or no longer have; in other words, being thankful, not for all things, but thankful for something, no matter what.
Second, I'm learning to live in the present moment and value it like no other. Long-range planning is like breathing to me. It occurs naturally and without effort but doesn't serve me well now. I must focus on today and this week and next week.
We will all be amid the storm. The storm is sometimes life-threatening and often scary. Sometimes I feel afraid, I admit; however, I won’t let it dominate my life. I remind myself that it’s normal to be frightened when facing uncertainty. But I can choose to live in fear or be open to experiencing joy in daily interactions or those rare and unexpected moments.
Getting through the storm is difficult, but being amid the storm is often when one learns life’s most valuable lessons. In every storm, there is the opportunity to answer two questions that will determine the quality of one’s life and the path forward: How will I choose to live my life? And what can I learn?
That is how to survive the storm.
Leave feedback for the author here. (Comments are not posted online.)