Lessons I learned from weather
I don’t know what the weather looks like where you live, but in my neighborhood, we’ve had a lot of rain, wind, and even snow. It’s quite gloomy with occasional maddeningly brief glimpses of blue sky and sunshine. It was starting to affect my mood. I found myself obsessively checking the forecast, watching for a predicted break in the clouds, when it occurred to me that Mother Nature could teach me a lesson—multiple lessons actually. So today I’m sharing with you lessons I learned from weather.
It’s all about perspective.
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” ~John Ruskin
Worrying about things you can’t control is a waste of energy.
I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms have caught me by surprise, so I had to learn very quickly to look further and understand that I am not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise the art of patience and to respect the fury of nature.” ~Paulo Coelho
The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
You can miss out on the joy of what is, wishing for what is not.
To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.” ~George Santayana
Power is often found in persistence more than brute strength.
Rain! whose soft architectural hands have power to cut stones, and chisel to shapes of grandeur the very mountains.” ~Henry Ward Beecher
Working together, we can make a difference.
Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together.” ~Vista M. Kelly
You can get too comfortable.
I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness.” ~Adeline Knapp
Your turn
- What’s the weather like where you are today?
- Do you have a favorite weather quote? What is it?
- What has the weather taught you?
- What else is on your mind today?
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Shared on the GRAND Social, #MLSTL, and Blogger’s Pit Stop.
Very interesting! I can see where I need to apply a lot of these life lessons to my own life. It IS all a matter of perspective! Thank you so much for sharing these lessons from weather with us.
Some lessons I have to learn over and over again, Trisha! 🙂
I read your post this morning as I am hoping for semi-promised (40% chance) rain. I understand that it is beyond my power but I’m urging it along anyway. I guess I’m just an optimistic realist about weather 🙂
You can have some of our rain, Pat! It just won’t stop. I must say my lawn looks beautiful though.
Christie – great post! This is exactly my current attitude – let the weather be what it is. If I can use non-judgmental adjectives that helps me simply accept it. I also plan my ‘desk work’ and indoor chores around the rainy, stormy weather whenever possible. Given we had 27 degrees and 3 inches of snow on Sunday and we’re at 72 and sunny today — you gotta go with the flow!
That is a huge temperature swing, Janet. We have a saying around here, “Don’t like the weather in Utah, wait five minutes.” Of course, that’s not so true right now. Rain every day is our new normal. I like your practice of using non-judgmental adjectives. I’m going to give that a try. Thanks!
I enjoyed this post and the lessons can be applied to so many things besides weather! I also love the pictures.
My favorite weather is probably 75 and sunny depending on what I’m doing. But I love every season.
Thank you Cindy. We must be sisters–I love the changing seasons too, and 75 and sunny sounds perfect to me. XOXO
Hi Christie – I enjoyed reading your post and photos. The weather has reminded me about impermanence. Nothing lasts forever, good or bad. #MLSTL
Weather is a good teacher of impermanence for sure Natalie. I had fun matching up my weather photos to quotes. I’m glad you enjoyed them.
I am so “controlled” by the weather but at the same time, I enjoy all kinds and try to revel in it and appreciate each season’s expectations. There certainly are lessons to be learned from weather, Christie and this was a fun, insightful perspective on nature’s gifts! Visiting from #MLSTL
Hello Terri. It is so much more pleasant if you can enjoy all different types of weather, rather than wishing for something different. Nature has many gifts. Thanks for stopping by.
I like this post very interesting. Our weather has finally changed for the better. It was 70 today and beautiful. Things always seem better when the sun is shining.
There is something to be said for a little sunshine to literally brighten your day, Victoria. That’s for sure! Enjoy!
I love a good storm! Just think about all the great music inspired by rain….there must be something about it that causes to be reflective?
Especially if there is thunder and lightning! I do agree. I hadn’t thought about the connection of rain to music or other creative arts, but I do believe it’s true. Thanks for stopping by and weighing in, Mark.
We’re having a glorious Autumn in Western Australia Christie – but my DIL said yesterday – “I’m so glad the cooler weather is here” and I thought to myself “yep, but in another few months we’ll be wishing for it to be warm again”. That’s why I love that we have seasons – just as you get tired of one type of weather, it’s time for something else. I’d love to be able to attach a pic of what a balmy day it is today – perfect for spending time with our visiting grandgirls – Easter bliss x
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
I do love the changing seasons, Leanne. It keeps things interesting and brings a sense of renewal–a chance to begin again–when each season is fresh and new. I’m curious, what is the typical temperature swing in Australia (in your general area) between winter and summer?
Hi Christie – the hottest we get would be 38C and the lowest during the day in Winter would be around 10C (maybe down to 5C at night) but mostly around mid 20’s for most of the year. No snow, no ice, no tornadoes – very temperate.
Very nice. I could live with that.
A great selection of quotes and photos Christie! The weather can affect our moods and at the moment coming into Easter we are having glorious autumnal days with mid 20C temps – so nice 🙂 #mlstl
Thanks Debbie. I had fun going through my photos and matching them to the quotes. Your current weather does sound glorious. The weather forecasters are promising us something similar at least for the next couple of days. I’m hoping, but also determined to enjoy whatever I actually get. 🙂
Lovely post, Christie, I have shared on SM, gotta love #MLSTL
Reminds me of a sailing adage…you can’t control the wind, just the set of your sails.
I love that quote, Nancy. Thanks for sharing.
I love the quotes and images! One thing about the weather that I’m not finally coming to grips with is, I can’t do a dang thing about it. I can’t control it no matter how many snow dances I do. Yes, it makes me angry, but that’s just how it is. 😉 Weather here in Delaware is cloudy and 60’s. Supposed to be 80 some tomorrow. Spring has finally arrived which apparently has made my disposition a bit better. Go figure. LOL Great post!
It’s amazing how the weather can affect our moods, isn’t it, Bren? Maybe your snow dances got misdirected to Utah, because we certainly received more than our fair share this year!
Oh no! Those dances weren’t meant for you. Sorry girly. I love snow but in Delaware we end up getting a few inches at a time. I like to have at least 8″ every time. LOL Whoopsy! Maybe I’ll have better luck next year and you won’t get so much. May have to change up my dance routine too!
If you’re going to have snow, you might as well have lots of it, huh? Happy dancing!
I have struggled with a very wet fall, a cold snowy winter and now back to rainy again. The floods we had didn’t help! I appreciate the quotes and the fresh perspective. I need to learn to adjust to whatever the weather is and enjoy it for what it is. Snow makes driving hazardous, but it is beautiful! I do appreciate our varying seasons.
It sounds like we are in a similar state–both of weather and of mind–Michele. The sun is shining here today though and I am enjoying it. We’ll see if my new-found wisdom lasts through the next rainy period. 🙂
Hi Christie
First, let me say, love the mismatched socks. Second, the rainbow photo is absolutely gorgeous! I’m on the central coast in California. We’ve gotten loads of rain this year and FYI next week there’s another storm coming through. When I watch the weather announcements in the evening, I realize the weather we’re having here will soon be moving across the U.S. So I can pretty accurately predict the weather across the plains and into the northeast. Right now, we’ve got some beautiful warm days here in Paradise, so I predict you’ll be seeing some nice temperatures in your area early next week.
Enjoy
Laura
Thanks for the forecast Laura! You’re probably more accurate than the newscasters. 🙂 That photo is from a canyon in Kauai, Hawaii. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it. The photo with the socks was from a Girls on the Run 5k where we got soaked. Thanks for stopping by Laura. Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.
I love all of these quotes, Christie and what wonderful reminders to be grateful for life despite what type of weather is happening in our life at the moment. We are heading into Winter in Australia but it is very mild where I live. Where I live, the seasons don’t change to significantly. That is why I relish when I visit places that are very cold and snowy because it is a novelty for me. Thank you as always for an insightful post and I hope you enjoy your Springtime. It is always a pleasure to have you join us at #MLSTL. xx
Thanks Sue. I had fun matching the photos with the quotes. In truth, I do love having four seasons. I just wish the spring and fall were a little longer. A couple of weeks of winter would suit me fine. 🙂
While I love the days that are 75 and sunny with a light breeze, I can also enjoy a rainy or snowy afternoon where I can curl up and read a book. My hubby is fond of saying, “there’s not any bad weather, there’s just bad wardrobe choices.” These day’s I’m hitting some bad wardrobe choices with the changing weather from day to day – sometimes being too hot, sometimes being too cold. Today was 75 & sunny and frost advisories are in effect next few mornings! No, I don’t live in Utah! 🙂
With a forecast like that, you could live in Utah, Pat! 🙂 I took my boots downstairs and brought my sandals up. Since then, yesterday was the first warm day. It’s hard to make good wardrobe choices when you refuse to bring the winter clothes back up! Your husband is a wise man indeed. Enjoy your day–whatever the weather!
We have had months of “if you don’t like the weather, wait 20 minutes!” so I will admit to wishing for a good warm stretch.
I love the quotes… although I will probably always be hopelessly in love with Spring!
Today is a beautiful spring day here, though they are predicting more rain for the weekend. I’m enjoying the sunshine while it lasts.
Some people worry about storm and weather, we just prepare for anything and go with the flow. Found you on Blogger’s Pit Stop
That’s a good philosophy to have Candy, about the weather and anything else outside of your control (which is just about everything except your own actions). Enjoy your weekend–whatever it may bring!
I like the Santayana quote Christie ~ To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.” ~George Santayana
This weekend the forecast was for violent winds and rain along with Tornado warnings. Right now the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful Holy Saturday so the forecast was wrong. I’ll be sharing on FB and Twitter for #MLSTL
https://meinthemiddlewrites.com/2019/04/12/atozchallenge-april-world-holidays-letter-k/
I liked that quote too, Mary Lou. I hope you have a lovely Easter–whatever the weather.
We can’t do anything about the weather but I so much prefer sunshine and temps in the 80s and 90s.
Given a choice, I usually prefer 80s and sunshine, but I also love a good thunderstorm on occasion.
I understand, a good hard rain is easy to sleep with…kind of relaxing, especially if you can hear the rain hitting the roof or windows. We’re thinking about getting a metal roof for our house, wouldn’t that be awesome to nap or sleep with when it’s raining?
I do love the sound of rain while I’m falling asleep. We have a cabin with a metal roof, and that is especially cozy.
Ah, that does sound cozy!!
Thanks so much for linking up and co-hosting at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty 37! Shared x 3 ♥