Several different versions of this poster have surfaced over the last 50 years. I think the gist is good in that one needs to maintain a positive outlook on life. But the particulars of the poster don't reflect reality. A storm is something that is not a soft, gentle rain. A storm is something that has high winds, sometimes rotating winds, lightning, thunder, sometimes hail. Storms in winter bring heavy, damaging snows or blizzards. It's numbing cold. Sometimes winds dump rain from hurricanes, or at other times leave sheets of ice for people to slide around on.
Storms change the landscape and lead to a healthy respect for the part of nature that isn't controlled by humans. In our lives those two principles season us from the time we enter adulthood until we depart the Earth. Storms come on us sometimes with warning, sometimes without, and they pound away on our philosophies of life, our core values, our relationships, and our direction in life. They change the landscape around us and they change us directly. They cause us to change directions, to meet or need new people, to redirect our steps, to challenge our beliefs, and to reevaluate our philosophies.
Storms come and go. That part of the poster is true. And the part about our coming out on the other side is true as well. But, now whether we're fine or not is up to how accepting we are of the changes in us the storms bring. They make us play the shoulda, coulda, woulda game. They make us have regrets sometimes, only if temporarily. They drive us to accomplishments, and proud moments. They drive us to strive so we don't have regrets.
Experience tells me what the poster should read: Storms will come and we should prepare for them ahead of time and be accepting of the changed landscape after it leaves. Respect every single one of them that hits your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment