Sometimes life can feel like a whirlpool; a swirling, twirling energy that sucks us in, leaving us feeling out of control, but we must not give in; we must rise up, take a deep breath in and find the current that leads us out and into our destiny. – K Lang
Last weekend I was up the coast with a couple of girlfriends, and as we were traveling home, we received a text from one of our children saying there was a big storm headed our way. It had been blue clear skies all weekend, and so it was hard to believe there was storm ahead.
But they were right, fifteen minutes into our trip, driving along the freeway, we started to see the familiar black and green ominous clouds rolling in, taking daylight with it. As I was driving towards it, I felt like we were being pulled unwilling into a whirlpool of dark energy!
We all slowed down as an eerie stillness fell over us. Some cars pulled over, but each of us hoped it would be quick and painless as we sat in this open, exposed and vulnerable space.
And as the lightning, thunder and downpour began, I realized there was nowhere to escape. Minutes later my friend who was following the radar announced “We are in the eye of the storm!” but I didn’t have time to respond as the pelting noise of hail began its downpour all over the car!
This experience although scary, was a great reminder how life can change in an instant and can leave us feeling exposed and vulnerable. However, in these moments of uncertainty, when I have felt there is nowhere to escape, I have learned to dig deep and discover I always have a warrior within that can survive anything she is given… if I let her.
“Being broken open by the storm is your only hope. When you are broken open you get to discover for the first time what is inside you. Some people never get to see what is inside them; what beauty, what strength, what truth and love. They were never broken open by the storm. So, don’t run from your pain — run into your pain. Let life’s storm shatter you.”
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(PS: The storm passed and amazingly, there was no damage to the car or us!)
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
wow, glad you made it through –
Thanks Beth, so were we 😬
We have storms, but usually not so sudden. What happens suddenly in the desert is flash floods. A dry or shallow creek bed can turn into a raging river in a minute or less.
People drive into water and get sucked downstream. We lean to never enter standing water unless we’re sure of its depth!
Glad you weathered the storm.
We have people driving through flash flooding too Emilie. So dangerous! They always believe they will make it 😁 thank you 💚
So glad that you (and your car) came through unscathed, Karen….
Yes me too Lori! Thank you! Somehow I don’t think I would make a ‘storm chaser!’ 🌪😬
I hear ya, Karen. You could not PAY me enough to do that job….
Ha! Have you moved in to your new home? 💚
Nope, we close a week from tomorrow and are moving in that afternoon (not that we’re anxious or anything…😉)
Oh it’s such a stressful transition! I did it a year ago and I know how difficult it is. Thinking of you. Keep breathing through it all. 💚💕
Beautiful Karen . . . and I love your warrior spirit that continues to shine bringing much needed light into the world.
Thank you Heather! I appreciate your kind thoughts 💕💚
Beautiful post. Glad you are ok. Reminded me of:
We’re unprepared
for our little disappointments.
Normally I might not pay attention
to sunlight pouring into the courtyard
but this afternoon, I do —
probably because it’s already nearly gone.
None of us mentions the night,
but I, for one, would like to
be expecting it, when
it comes.
— Nathan McClain, from “Power Outage Elegy,” Waxwing (Issue VIII, 2016)
Yes that’s it! Being present to it all. No regrets 🌈☀️🌪 Thanks Dave
Wow – What a great lesson for life Karen. Glad you were unscathed and able to share this wisdom with us. 💕🙏💕
Thank you Val 🌪☀️ I am grateful 🙏🏻
Good analogy, Karen. Life does give us storms and the only way out is through. Glad you came through the hailstorm unscathed!
Definitely through Eliza! Even though I wanted to go another way ha! 🌪🌪🌪 💚💕
It’s a great analogy. I certainly have been broken open many times over recently. Sometimes I find the warrior within me, sometimes she hides as well, though…
Yes, we are all good at hiding her, but she is always there, ready to rise up and be seen! ✨
🙂