“You are, I think, an evening star, the fairest of all the stars.”
― Sappho
As I sit here looking at my screen, there is the pitter-patter of rain heard through my screen door. The first rain of summer, the first rain in months. So a very, very blessed sound to my ears.
I just had a good “personal rain” myself rewatching Little Women, the 2019 Greta Gerwig version. I have easily watched Little Women in its many iterations over 30 times in my life. And yet… and yet I cry every time. This time I cried so much I knew there was more than the movie going on.
I don’t really know what it is which has led me to the keyboard and contemplating rain. Here in Arizona part of the delight of rain is how fragrant the world is when it over. The cleansing good rain and good cries bring us also deliver heightened senses too I think.
I often feel more aware… brighter after a storm. An evening star that emerges to illuminate the darkness with wavering light.
Life’s storms often arrive unexpectedly. Few come in like they do in Nebraska or Kansas where you can see them building for miles. Rather, we have a few minutes of warning thunder telling us to seek shelter.
Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a shattered dream, a shattered relationship, storms have the power to leave us feeling disoriented and overwhelmed. Shaken to the very foundation of our being. It is hard in these moments to remember that any storm is merely a temporary chapter in our journey, and it is within our control to determine how we emerge from it.
I think Little Women tonight reminded me of our resilience, the innate ability we women have to adapt, heal, and persevere. Our strength from within enabling us to weather a storm’s fury, no matter the reason, the generation, the body shape. Women are gorgeous individuals capable of overcoming even the most formidable of challenges.
In the darkest moments, we have these chances to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. Layers of pretense gone like mascara on a Kleenex, forcing us to confront our deepest fears and insecurities… if we want. We have a choice. We can experience this same kind of storm again or do some self-reflection and gain newfound understanding of our strengths, passions, and values. We can rediscover our core essence and develop a renewed sense of purpose that propels us forward, emerging brighter.
The key lies in nurturing that inner light, that ember of hope that remains even in the darkest hours. Through self-care, gratitude, and surrounding ourselves with positivity, we can replenish our spirits and re-ignite the SoulFire within.
Life’s storms may get fierce. We can rage right along with it. And we can also emerge like the land after a good storm… softer, clearer, cleaner. After any storm, the evening star shines its brightest then.
This is my personal blog about being present and in the moment and working to keep this fire within me burning.
