"Do the storms ever stop? No, but neither do the rainbows."

After getting treatment for my carpal tunnel syndrome yesterday (that was a big needle) I came home, took some pain medication, and lay down on the sofa with the dogs. I was feeling too fuzzy-headed to focus on a book, and so I turned on the television and found myself sort-of watching an incredibly mawkish series. Usually, I would not even consider watching a program like this. The story and characters are far too sentimental, marshmallowy, contrived, and completely unconvincing, for my tastes. However at that moment I needed to watch something undemanding and soft around the edges as I dozed and rested. So when I turned on Netflix and this is what popped up I went with it.

   I wasn’t really following the story that much, but then a scene captured my notice. Two friends were lying on yoga mats looking up at the ceiling. One of the women, who was really struggling emotionally, asked her friend, “does it ever stop?” After a short pause and a little wrinkle of her nose, her friend replied, “No, but neither do the rainbows.”

   Yes, this sort of writing is definitely fits into the ‘heavily clichéd mushydom’ category, but, heaven help me for saying this, at that moment I realized that, for me at least, the friend’s response is true. In my mind’s eye I can see your eyes rolling, and I can practically hear you thinking, “she is on loopy-inducing meds that have addled her brain and made her sappy….” Perhaps I was floating slightly, but being that relaxed allowed me to be open to some quiet, gentle thinking. So, please indulge me. 

   There are a lot of things that are that challenging me in my personal world, and what is happening in the Big World out there is appalling. My own health woes, my dog’s injury, and the crises and worries in the lives of those I love are a considerable weight to bear. Add to that the dire political and social climate in the United States and elsewhere and the result is what my daughter delicately calls “a s*** storm.”  

   And yet, in spite of all these ‘storms’ there are so many things that serve as my rainbows. I have the love and unconditional support of my husband, daughter, family members, dear friends, and animal companions. Every day I see beautiful views from my lovely home. I can take glorious walks in town and on the mountains trails whenever I want. I get to cook delicious meals that are a joy to shop for, prepare, and share. I can indulge in my love of books, the written word, my own writing, and research. I can jump down intellectual rabbit holes whenever they find me.  

   So, you see my friends, though the quote above is clichéd and schmaltzy, it is also worth considering. There are storms in my life, but there are also a lot of rainbows. And yes the rainbows do help me to weather the storms. Pun intended. 

  In this time of storms I invite you to join me to seek out the rainbows.

“When thunderstorms roll in, you make a choice to either succumb with tears 

to the gloomy downpour, or smile and look for rainbows.” 

Richelle E. Goodrich

Painting by Alexander Kusenko