Forecast: Overcast & Gloomy

I wanted to be a meteorologist when I was growing up. I only felt this way for a brief time, as when the weather didn't pan out, everyone would turn their anger towards the weatherman. We'd put our 100% faith in his weather report...out would emerge rain chance percentages...or we'd see pictures of suns, or dark clouds with a single bolt of lightning. Now we can just click on an app and we see a radar that's undeniable. The weatherman has become more of newscast staple than the "go-to guy".

Life has no forecasts. Each day is a new adventure...somewhat. It truly is what we make it honestly. The cliche term..."yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, and today is a gift that's why we call it the present" comes to mind. I find it too easy to get caught up in worry, or yesterday's mistakes, or having fear of what has not even happened yet. We walk around this earth with so many dreams in our head, our hearts steel-guarded, and memories of mistakes and "should-haves" running through our minds.

Living in Florida, hurricane season comes every year. Our trusty "go-to guy" weatherman pleads with us yearly to stock up on canned goods, batteries, water, and flash lights. We watch the radars and satellite images in awe, the large swirl of storm clouds with an eye that almost stares back and we...well...we wait. What if we had a life radar where we could see life's storms coming and we could prepare for them as best as we could? Or we could see perfect sunny days without a spot of rain? Of course this is a preposterous idea, but the motive for me asking is if we have no clue what tomorrow holds, why not expect better instead of wait for worse? Practical thinking and realism will only get you so far in this world. We limit ourselves.

I walked outside my home this morning and at first, saw nothing but storm clouds and rain drops. With a sigh, I hurried the dogs back in and the feeling of gloom came over me like a tidal wave. But then I grabbed my laptop and came outside to my sheltered table, and felt the cooler air, watched native birds bask in the thirsty pond, and listened to a chorus of frogs and alligators (yes alligators) revel in the much needed rain.

Choosing to see past the overcast skies and gloomy rain allowed me to have a moment of inspiration and for just a few moments, I re-visited the dream of becoming a meteorologist...smiling and sharing the exciting news of weather to come with an oh-so-captivated audience. Seize each moment regardless of the apparent outward circumstance. Be determined and persevere.