It seems like this happens every year
It is amazing how fast the weather changes. Today we were hit with an unexpected snowstorm. The same exact thing happened last year. I remember it well because Gavin and I attended a Green Day concert the night of the storm. I drove him back to college in Richmond that night and made my way back to NOVA in the storm. It was dicey getting home. I was not sure my Jeep would make it on the icy roads.
Fast Forward to this year
Today’s snow storm is not as bad as last year’s or the blizzard of 2016. It seemed to come from nowhere. Two days ago it was warm and sunny. Today it is snowing sideways, blanketing the area in white. Once again I am reminded how quickly the weather can change – just like life. We are barely through the first quarter of 2018 and I have already experienced multiple twists and turns. My father’s health took a turn for the worse, an important relationship ended, and I had to give up on one of my long-term dreams. I have been writing about my dad’s situation. Who knows I may write about the other two topics when the time is right.
My blog post from last March about the snowstorm seems relevant with today’s weather, so I am sharing it again. I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Last year a surprise storm hit in March 2017
Wow – what a week. We went from great spring weather to a snowstorm within a matter of hours. I was on the road late Monday night, and it was miserable. Snow, rain, and ice wreaking havoc on the area. I cannot recall the last time that the weather changed so quickly. I have to admit that I was caught somewhat off guard. I knew it was going to snow but did not prepare myself for the change, unlike last year. You will recall that last year we experienced the blizzard of 2016. That storm lived up to the hype, dumping over a foot of snow.
Bad weather makes us slow down
Three life lessons come to mind when I think about how a storm affects us. First, we have to slow down. The roads are slick, and it is dangerous to drive too fast. If you do not slow down, you will end up in a ditch. The roads on Monday were rather dicey, and I was not sure I would make it home unless I took my time. In life, sometimes slowing down is the right thing to do. We tend to rush through life without paying much attention to what is going on around us. If you are not careful, you may end up in a dangerous situation.
We stick to the basics
Second, the storm forces us to prioritize our needs. Everyone flocks to the stores for supplies to stock up before the storm hits. Notice that we buy what we need like milk, bread, beer and toilet paper. This lesson is helpful when thinking about how to spend your money and your time. Both are limited resources. Don’t waste them on things that are not important. You will regret it.
We change our plans
Third, a storm teaches us to be flexible. Think about all the plans that had to change. Thousands of flights were canceled, stores and schools closed, and we all had to hunker down during the blizzard. Being flexible is critical because you cannot control the weather at all. You may experience a similar situation at some point in your life. It will change in ways you do not anticipate and you will need to be flexible to deal with it. Hopefully, Spring is here, and we will not have any more weather surprises…but you never know.
The color of the sky as far as I can see is coal grey.
Lift my head from the pillow and then fall again.
With a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
– Like the Weather, 10,000 Maniacs