Lessons from the Porch – Storms of Life

Darkness came swiftly as the pelting rain came roaring through the valley.

The unbearable heat and humidity that had been with us for the last several days was suddenly washed away. Welcomed winds immediately cooled the air, dropping the temperature so quickly we actually felt chilled.

What was most amazing were the stunning, minute-by-minute changes to the sky. Perched on the porch with camera in hand, it was exciting to witness the awesome color changes, the fog rolling in, and then the cleared sky and sunset. Within a short hour, the perspective from the porch had changed dramatically.

Just like life, change often comes quickly and unexpectedly, immediately affecting your perspective as well as your choices. The fog of uncertainty can certainly be challenging. This is why it is so vital to build a foundation of unshakable personal truth. Who are you? What do you stand for? What is most important to you? Then follow that inner guidance system.

How do you handle the storms that enter your life? Follow the Circle of Wisdom (Awareness, Acceptance, Accountability, Action, Achievement, Assess & Adjust) and your choices will become easier. The fog will clear. How you deal with change is entirely within your control. Really. You can choose to let the natural cycle of life nurture or destroy. Whether you find yourself in the middle of a drought, a flood, or gentle rain, with what lens will you choose to view life’s transitions?

The storm will pass. The sun will return. It always does.

How do You Handle Adversity?

Are you the carrot, the egg, or the coffee bean?

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.

In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?” Read more