Dancing in the Rain

“It isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain-” Vivian Greene

Yesterday marks one month since I taught in my classroom. In my community, restaurants have been reduced to only take-out service, other businesses have been closed indefinitely. The plan is for us to get back to normal by April 30th; some speculate it might not be until May 15th.

The media outlets have overdosed on the worst possible case scenario stories with emphasis on the problem rather than a solution. Is there a solution other than locking down the entire world? Surely, scientists with their wisdom can come up with a solution. Surely.

While I am teaching online now, I prefer to be out of my house and in the classroom.

Social distancing/social isolation is not emotionally, mentally or spiritually healthy. People need actual interaction with others.

Curious fact alert:  In my community, the liquor stores are open with lines out the door, but houses of worship  are closed.  Seriously? Who came up with this plan? Obviously someone who did not have their thinking caps on. Standing in line at the liquor store a few feet from each other?  Ha! Ha! Ha!

That’s a great recipe there for disaster-alcohol use while in social isolation.

No one thought this through-did they?

What could possibly go wrong?

I’ve tried to keep my spirits up. I am a positive soul and I  focus on solutions rather than problems. I’ve tried to share positive and uplifting messages here on my blog.

I like this quote “life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain” because it focuses not on the storm but on what can be done in the midst of the storm.

In the midst of the storm that we are all in right now I ask what can we do. Can we adjust our thoughts toward learning something positive about ourselves? Have we learned to persevere in the face of discomfort and fear? Have we learned to slow down and take a closer look at our lives and decide to make changes that we hadn’t previously considered? Have we learned to find joy in the little things?

For me, I have revisited my art work and I have started to edit that novel I kept telling myself  that I didn’t have enough time to work on. Well, time is all I have had these past few weeks. I have taken the time to organize family photos and clean out my closets.

In the midst of this storm I have decided to focus on the joy of painting, the joy of writing, the joy of early morning and watching the birds flying into the blue skies and landing on the branches of  the old oak trees.

I’ve decided not to give into the panic; I’ve made a conscious effort to focus on the future.

I cannot change what is happening around me but I can control my reaction to it.

I prefer dancing in the rain to complaining about the storm.

Jenny W. Andrews, Copyright 2020