Our work is mostly outside. It's been a rainy spring. The screenshot above is the radar a few minutes ago. There's a nice break in the storms. As I write this, my shoes and socks are wet. Walking makes a squishy sound. Jeans-wet, shirt - damp. It's unavoidable.
What separates us, is how we deal with these challenges.
Looking at the radar, What do you notice first? The break from the storm? Or the rain a few minutes away? Do you feel thankfulness? Dread? Both?
On days like today, I try to smile and put a Keith Whitley or Eddie Rabbit song on replay in my head.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwOfWwo5WIw
I'm no Stranger to the Rain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG0e8_foDmU
An old saying comes to mind, "It is better to light a candle, than curse the darkness."
I searched that, and it's credited to several notable people. Two that jump out at me are Eleanor Roosevelt, and Confucius. This led me to interesting Google results...
Eleanor was born in New York, NY in 1884. She died in 1962, at the age of 78. In 1906, she married Franklin Delano Roosevelt, her 5th cousin. She was the longest serving First Lady as he was President for four terms, from 1933 to 1945. Her maiden name, and her married name was Roosevelt. Eleanor had a heart for the common people of her day, and minorities.
Confucius, on the other hand, was born in 551BC. He lived 72 years, and died in 479BC. He went to school with the common people of his day. As an adult, he championed education. His single name, Confucius, is a Latinized version of his birth name, the Mandarin, Kong Fuzi. Or Master Kong. He is remembered as the Philosopher of the Chinese.
Safe to say that both of these people knew challenges, and adversity. They lived two thousand plus years apart. Both accomplished much, and left their mark on their communities, and the world. It's interesting to me that they get credit for saying some of the same things.
The light a candle quote reminds us we can make the better choice. We can choose optimism, and train our minds to see beyond now. Yes, sometimes "now" is boring, uncomfortable, even miserable.
Better days are ahead!
Those better days begin with better moments. I believe the better moments begin with me: My attitude, and some patience.
The opening in the clouds moved on past. The sky darkened, as the sun was blocked again. I took a couple of pictures. The temperature dropped as the rain and wind returned.
This moment... is ours. Wait for the sun? Or, get out in the rain.
The smile and song? That's up to me.
Let's choose lighting candles over cursing darkness.
But hey, I'm no Master Kong...just a smiley guy with squishy shoes.