A storm brews over Daytona Beach. Photo by D. Paul Graham

“Monday 5 Things”™ ….. An Angry Woman …..

I will admit to being caught off guard by her. She was loud, angry, and destructive. Her actions were intense, unpredictable, and relentless. She was a thunderous tempest and impossible to ignore. I was drawn to her. I hope to never meet her again, but something tells me that her family will return at some point. I had to cancel a trip with LA to spend some time with dear friends in Philly and was working into the wee hours of a new day. For hours the lights flickered on and off and at 1:30 the power shut down.  I continued working by the light of my computer screen, until the battery drained, leaving me in darkness. I sat outside on our deck, that we affectionately call our tree house, and watched the storm intensify.  Spanish moss flew through the air. The wind became the conductor for the percussive tones of our windchimes, creating hauntingly beautiful sounds in the midst of her gusts and roars. The strongest and oldest of oak trees creaked and swayed, some breaking and blocking roadways. Palm trees bent at the oddest of angles, held in place by deep roots that had weathered decades of such winds. The coming hours and days would expose the destruction and havoc caused by a hurricane named Helene. As I pondered the power and metaphor of storms for life, this week’s M5T blew in to start a new week.

1. STORMS CHANGE PACE. Storms, of any size, have a way of slowing you down, making you take pause, perhaps even coming to a full stop. Intense storms can force you to take cover. All your carefully made plans can change in the proverbial blink of an eye. Storms take charge, making you pay attention and adjust to their conditions.

2. STORMS ADJUST PRIORITIES. Storms force you to focus on what matters, to be present, in the moment, and alert to what is happening all around you. When a storm hits hard, your priorities shift in an instant. To-do lists become irrelevant. The safety and well-being of your family and neighbors becomes the priority. Storms allow you to cut out the fluff, and to recognize what’s truly important in your life.

3. STORMS REVEAL STRENGTH. Storms can knock you off balance. Yet, it is through storms that you often find out that you are much more resourceful than you’ve given yourself credit for. Storms can bend you to point of breaking, shaking you to your very core, stretching your emotions and making you uncomfortable, but as the storm clears you realize that you’re tougher, wiser, resilient, and better prepared for the next storm that you will encounter in life.

4. STORMS OPEN DOORS. Storms produce reflection and a chance to take stock of where you are headed. When you are forced to change directions, or perhaps to even make a full stop from obstacles and debris in your path, storms can clarify what is cluttering your life. As messy or destructive storms can be, the aftermath often leaves you with a clearer vision for your life.

5. STORMS INSTILL GRATITUDE. Storms don’t last forever. The air eventually clears, and you see things differently. Storms teach you that life’s moments of quiet and calm should not be taken for granted. Storms shake things up and expose new horizons. Be thankful that clarity often comes from chaos, that growth comes from difficulties, that your full potential can unleashed through storms. Storms reveal those around you that will work tirelessly to ensure your safety and well-being. Take some time to thank them.

Here’s to praying for those that have lost family and friends from the destruction of Helene and for those communities that will take months to rebuild. Thank a first responder. And to the Georgia Power linemen and linewomen, thank you for your tireless work to get power back on in our communities.

For over 12 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T™.  He is hoping power will be back on at the condo soon.

© 2024 D. Paul Graham.

You can reach Paul by email at dpg@imagegraham.com

“Monday 5 Things” ™ and M5T™ are trademarks of D. Paul Graham