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I have become obsessed with the weather. In the first 75 days of 2005, we’ve experienced the following here on my tiny island:
- High temperature of 68° F, low of -8° F: both in January
- 65 mph winds, with gusts equal to a Category 3 hurricane
- Almost 75 inches of snow: 32 of ‘em in one, four-day period in January
In the first 75 days of 2005, I’ve learned that Mother Nature can dish out pretty much whatever she feels like. I’ve also learned that we can pretty much handle it. Which brings me to my topic for today…
In the midst of my weather obsession, I’ve come to appreciate many different things.
- The people who keep the ferries running
- Keeping a shovel in my basement so I don’t have to trudge out to the garage to get it
- The power of the sun to melt snow, even if the temperature is below freezing
- The wisdom of my lovely husband, who purchased a generator soon after we bought the house
But mostly I’ve learned to appreciate resilience.
- The way tall, straight white birch trees bend over double in heavy snow—looking like wedding archways while bigger, less flexible trees are crashing and breaking under the weight.
- How a chunk of sod (dug up by a wayward plow) will reattach its roots after you put it back where it belongs.
- How my perceptions gently expand as they are stretched by the extremes of weather. Six inches of snow used to be an “event”; now it’s more like 10” or 12”.
From dictionary.com:
re·sil·ience
Pronunciation Key (r-zlyns) n.
- The ability to recover quickly from illness, change, or misfortune; buoyancy.
- The property of a material that enables it to resume its original shape or position after being bent, stretched, or compressed; elasticity.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
I have definitely become more resilient this winter, and with that comes a deeper understanding of what I can handle (no more than an hour of shoveling snow that’s more than a foot deep, then a break). I also have a deeper understanding of how extensive my power really is. I am not yet as powerful as Mother Nature, but I know I am powerful enough to handle whatever she throws my way. And if I can handle 32” of snow in four days, I can pretty much do anything.
I judge less quickly; I don’t jump to conclusions. I step back and see what happens. “Don’t cancel the trip, because it’s just as likely that the storm will turn north or south and we won’t get anything at all.” My resilience has made me more patient. It also allows me to recover, so my roots can go deeper, and I’ll be even more ready for the next challenge.
When you are challenged, think of the birch tree or the temporarily uprooted sod. Bounce back, be flexible, and be ready to face another day, or rigidly stand your ground and break. This does not mean you give up your values or your backbone. You just do a little mental yoga to keep that spine flexible.
If you’re feeling a little stiff as we finally head into Spring, why not treat your self to an SOS 30-Day Tune-Up? This 30-day intensive e-course is new this month, and includes lessons, tips and motivations to help you reassess where you are, readjust you goals, and re-energize your desire to achieve them.
You’ll also receive the SOS 30-Day Tune-Up Workbook (8-1/2" x 11", 22 pages), full of all the worksheets and self-assessments you’ll need to complete the e-course. And, all Tune-Up students receive an SOS Chanting by Hand Journal (a $9.99 value), at no extra charge.
To celebrate Spring, the SOS 30-Day Tune-Up is specially priced at $24.99, through April 30, 2005. That’s half off its regular price of $49.99! Are you ready to make this new season your best season yet?
Sign up for your SOS 30-Day Tune-Up!
My upcoming book, Become Your Own Great and Powerful: A Woman’s Guide to Leading Your Real, Big Life, has been chosen an Editor’s Choice selection by iUniverse.com!
The book's launch date is May 24th—now officially known as International Tiara Day.
Watch this space for more details…
If you’re interested in exploring more about life transformation, personal power, and the strength of resilience, or just about tiaras and the really cool women who wear them, here are just some of the ways for you to connect.
Visit my blog, Creating An Ideal Life While Wearing a Tiara. I post all kinds of musings, questions and general craziness here, and you’re welcome to join in and comment on any and all postings.
The SOS Forum is a terrific place to find some support and motivation from others who are taking a bigger leadership role in their lives, and to get some feedback on your own Personal Power Manifesto.
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The mission of SOS Monthly is to inspire and empower you to lead the big life you want. Comments, feedback and ideas for stories are always welcome. Also, please feel free to forward this along to anyone who might be interested and/or benefit from its contents. All story ideas, comments and suggestions are most welcome. Send me your input!
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©2005 by Barbara Bellissimo. All rights reserved.
Barbara Bellissimo
Life Transformation Agent
P.O. Box 1303
West Tisbury, MA 02575
1.508.696.4647