“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
it’s about learning how to dance in the rain!”
I live in Orlando, Florida and in 2004 we were hit with not one, not two, but four consecutive hurricanes! It was pretty frightening and devastating! Many of us were without electricity and water for several weeks! Roofs on houses were blown away! Our neighborhood covered in a sea of blue tarps!
One afternoon, after the 3rd storm had passed, my husband and I were walking through the neighborhood assessing the damage and one thing caught my eye. The trees! I noticed that some of the trees had literally been RIPPED out of the ground and tossed to the side of the road like a discarded rag doll by the strong winds and rains that the previous 3 hurricanes had provided. However, there were other trees that stood tall and strong, and had somehow managed to weather these storms. Now granted, the surviving trees had lost some branches and limbs along the way, but they were still standing!
Now, I’m no arborist, but this intrigued me enough to take a closer look to determine why some of the trees survived and the others did not. Upon closer inspection – I noticed that the trees that had been ripped from the earth had very small root balls with short roots protruding from them, making them an easy target for Mother Nature to snatch out of the ground. By contrast, the trees that had weathered the storms had long roots that burrowed deep into the earth. So when the hurricanes attacked, these trees merely swayed, lost a few branches, and weathered these mighty storms! The deep roots had served as their solid foundation and kept them grounded during the storms!
This same principle is true in our lives. In order for us to withstand the storms that life brings our way, it is critical that we build a strong personal foundation. This personal foundation serves to protect us against the storms of life. We are ALL going to experience storms in our lives, that is inevitable. The difference is how we handle the storms. People that survive these storms have built a strong personal foundation. They have learned to create their own deep root system that allows them to stay grounded and dance in the rain.
Think about it! Haven’t you known people that just seem to able to weather life’s storm easier than others?
There are several key elements involved with building a strong personal foundation, and I will be covering them in future blogs. However, the most important factor in building a strong personal foundation is accepting the fact that there are many things in life that we cannot control, but the things we can control include our thoughts, our words and our actions. We have a choice everyday to decide to have a healthy attitude. Remember, as Lou Holtz said: Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it
So, when the storms of life start heading your way……………are you going to let those storms knock you down, or are you going to learn to dance in the rain?
Guest Blogger: Leah Turner
email: Leah@CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
website: CreatingYourMasterpiece.com
407.709.6816
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What a great message for these difficult times. That Lou Holtz quote is one of my favorites. Here’s to dancing in the rain!