Reflections from the Rock and Beyond

Storms and Reflections – The Perfect Storms

The obvious thing about life is that it’s not predictable and never the same. If life was always predictable, frankly, that would be pretty boring. The weather keeps us on our toes. Sometimes rain showers seem to appear out of nowhere, hinder our plans, cause angst about the depth of puddles and flooding that we have to drive through, lights and wipers on along with the focus it takes to navigate a “frog strangler” (as my husband calls the intense blinding rain) without skidding, crashing or rear ending another driver, especially one that is a novice to Florida downpours, instant road flooding, torrents clogging the gutters while the Florida newbie reduces speed to a tortoise rate.

The beauty of storms is that after the torrents, thrashing trees, branches and debris flying through the air, the wind and water subsides and though the aftermath is uncertain, we have choices. Optimistically, we can decide that the challenges are always something we can deal with, no matter what they are. Being resilient is part of our DNA. We watch the storm clouds dissipate, pick up the pieces, help our neighbors if needed and cherish the theater of the storms. 

Afternoon showers or blows, as we call them, have persevered through the summer and into the fall, and although the pattern sometimes gets tedious, there are beacons of beauty and inspiration to celebrate, if one takes the time to wander, and wonder, at the remnants of the moisture. 

I admit, I have some observation time while waiting for my dog to select the perfect weed to water and have discovered some amazing visions that should be shared and perhaps their revelation may encourage you to look down, as well as up, for inspiration. As we take our walk following the end of a downpour and espy the standing water that has accumulated everywhere, there are miracles revealed in the reflections and on the foliage that increase one’s perception and appreciation of nature and our environment. 

Yes, the storms are a nuisance at times, but the trees, grass and flowers thrive because of them. If you slow down or even stop to “smell the roses”, as the expression goes, you might see things that are stunning and unique following a downpour rather than just trudging down the sidewalk or through a parking lot without looking left or right to appreciate the beauty that sparkles in the sunlight. It takes an introspective view to witness the special qualities of the storm remnants that linger and can capture your imagination and awe if you’re open to the wonder.

The droplets of water that cling to petals and grasses, the sunlight sparkling off the flowers and plants, the shiny wetness of the residual moisture on leaves, grasses, well, it’s all stunning and surprising, unless you were sensitive to these miracles beforehand, which, whether you have or haven’t, it’s not too late! We need to open our eyes to the splendors that surround us, that we often take for granted; the special gifts that we walk by/drive by/ignore on a daily basis because we’re too busy or assume that there’s nothing unique that we’ve never seen before or don’t have the curiosity about what nature has provided for our introspection and solace. My hope is that it will encourage you to open your eyes in a different way and appreciate the positivity that surrounds all of us, especially with the increasing negativity that permeates our daily lives in so many forms.