Ripples #909: Storm Dancing.
Oct 24, 2016
PEBBLE
Joy is a decision, a really brave one,
about how you are going to respond to life.
-Wess Stafford, shared via Values.com
BOULDER
You can dance in the storm.
Don’t wait for the rain to be over because it might take too long. You can do it now. Wherever you are, you can start, right now; this very moment.
-Israelmore Ayivor, shared by Jeff at UC-Davis
PONDER
The external climate isn’t up to me, but my internal climate is.
We’re all seduced at times by the myth that happiness comes from having things go our way. Especially on the tough days, it can be tempting to believe that good moods shine along with the sunshine, and bad moods are caused by bad weather. On our best days we know that it’s probably more accurate to say that storm fronts make it easier for sadness and frustration to rain down while our sunshiny emotions retreat behind the clouds.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned from having a dog in my life for a decade was that *every* day can be a good day for a walk. While some days were more pleasant than others of course, there were plenty of rainy and snowy days that still provided fresh air and a chance to stretch my legs.
Choosing the weather isn’t up to me, but how to dress for it *is* up to me; and we can always stash a flashy, funky umbrella in the glove compartment to help keep us a little bit drier and a little bit happier on an otherwise gloomy day.
Peace,
Paul
The Ripples Guy
