Beauty After a Storm

There is nothing like the immense beauty overlooking the sky when a storm has passed or the tranquility after it has rained. The peace and silence after two people have been fighting with each other or that moment when you're able to relax after a long hard day of work.

I took this picture in Petit-Rocher, on the north shore of New Brunswick Canada. On this particular evening, a huge thunderstorm was approaching. Within less than an hour, the sky became dark, things got quiet and silence filled the air. The clouds covered the sky and the height of them was breathtaking. Most of us have seen plenty of thunderstorms but they all bring their own personality.

Think of the storm as a metaphor for obstacles or conflicts in our lives. Some people really love them and others avoid them. Storms can feel intense and full of disarray while others are small & quick. The kind of obstacles or storms I am talking about are not the kind that everybody runs from but a kind of disarray that is needed to cleanse and refresh things around us. Storms, big or small, have a purpose which Earth doesn't avoid and as human beings, there are some obstacles we can’t avoid as well. However, these kinds of disarray or obstacles we need to acknowledge, to take time and reflect, to face what’s in front of us and prepare for what’s to come.

Everyone will face obstacles in their lives or conflicts they can’t comprehend. When it comes to our minds, those that wake up every day wondering and asking themselves “How am I going to deal with my mental health today?”. Having pervasive thoughts intruding your mind during a shift, taking away focus from a task at hand or being unable to study for a project. Those that just feel the extra weight of stress and pressure of daily living might try to over analyze a solution, imagining and processing a way to balance it all and finding the best way. When your mind is constantly busy thinking & thinking from one thought to another, not knowing where all these thoughts come from can be time consuming and draining. Those having difficulty disciplining the mind can make a day quite challenging and confused.

And then, there are emotions. Unlike thoughts which we can learn & discipline its intensity. Emotions are more complex, we not only feel them in our hearts but we carry them all over our body. Whether it’s dealing with past trauma and feeling discouraged or shame and guilt hovering over our heads, emotions have a bigger message to give therefore making them much more important to listen to. If you're full of joy, ecstatic, inspired or enigmatic, these emotions have a big impact on day to day lives. The same goes for emotions of sadness, anger, hopelessness and fear. The latter are just as powerful and can bring about serious consequences and disease if one is unable to untangle and heal the root causes of these negative and heavy feelings. These consequences will have a lasting impact on your health and body over time.

As for your Body, it’s with you all of your life, it carries you wherever you go. It’s Sacred and Beautiful. Living in a physical environment, It’s your body that helps you do the things you want to do. As you move throughout your life, learning the body mechanics that makes you you, you discover different aspects of yourself that bring about difficulties and challenges in your daily life. The more you understand about your body the more you can move on this planet called Earth. Walking on the pavement, building arts and crafts, Hiking in the Forest or Swimming in the ocean. Taking care of what many struggle to cherish is of concern, looking at the basics of how we live, eat and sleep taking a deeper look into our lives is more important than ever.

Nevertheless, how do we confront and overcome these obstacles that each aspect of our lives touch. Our body is alive in this physical environment, our thoughts that're circling in our heads throughout the day, thoughts which for some make no sense and emotions, the variety of emotions that if overwhelming we can’t deny. Also, let’s not forget our spirit, what gives us strength is our spirit, to find Hope, Faith and Belief in who we are and what’s to come. When you surround yourself with good people, good experiences, encouraged and filled with love & belonging and supported by a community, it reinforces your Faith & Belief. It provides hope for the future.

Therefore, when I see that thunder storm approaching, or any storm (conflicts & obstacles) that impacts our lives be it Physical, Mental, Emotional or Spiritual. I have faith and We should have faith that things will be alright. It might be rough for a little while, some soul searching might be needed and new depths of our character will be explored and of course lets not forget our patience. In the end there will be tranquility of heart, some peace of mind and hopefully some gratitude. There will be beauty after a storm.