When I was a kid in Ohio, Wally Kinnan was the weatherman on the local news show.  I had an affinity toward his presentation of the weather with his felt board and the different cartoon like symbols of sun, rain and snow.  His demeanor was calm, cool and collected no matter what the skies overhead might bring. There was comfort in knowing Wally could tell me what weather to expect, so I could prepare, and we would all “weather” our way through it.

In this age, weather reporters appear to be directing us to be on continuous “high alert” regarding the weather, no matter if it is rain, sun, sleet or snow…with descriptives like storm is brewing, heat waves, treacherous ice or blizzard conditions.  Adjectives that promote fear or anxiety based energy surround the weather almost on a daily basis.  

So, where am I going with this? Recently, I’ve given particular consideration to how weather terms are also used to describe people’s moods and behavior. “There are storm clouds brewing between those two, she came into the room like a tornado or his anger finally blew over.” 

Having spent several weeks traveling this summer, I have been in close proximity to a variety of people.  At times, I found myself mentally forecasting the daily weather of moods of different individuals and whether or not I would get caught up in them as well.  I reflected about those times where I allowed myself to be on “high alert” due to a stormy mood situation surrounding me. Then other times, when I was able to able to stay calm, cool and peaceful within just as Wally Kinnan did in his weather forecast, no matter what storm front might be looming.  What was the difference for me as to whether or not to join in or be affected by others’ emotional weather before moving on? 

The difference was taking a mental pause, not reacting, focusing on my breath with a couple of silent deep breaths, then simply observing the same way I notice the outside weather from my doorway or window.  I can look at it from the calmness and safety of my home space, but it’s my choice whether or not to step into outside weather conditions. I keep discovering the more I engage with my inner self through mindful and meditative practice, the outside emotional weather of others doesn’t affect me like a whirlwind as it has in the past.  There is more knowing from within me, that there will be a change in the emotional storm despite what I might be witnessing during that moment.  My inner climate remains a calm breeze..

Even more recently, I have had several opportunities to practice connecting with my inner climate. 

Ironically, as I write this blog, weather is having a huge impact on my plans.  I am currently sitting on a plane heading to Italy for a long anticipated vacation. Despite our best laid plans, the weather in the form of Category 5 Hurricane Dorian decided to hit Florida on the day we were planning to connect through Miami to Milan, Italy. Definitely a cause for a “weather alert!”

I contacted our airlines to rearrange flight plans just a few days before our departure.  Despite the change in the weather, the choice was mine, whether or not to allow the outside conditions affect my internal barometer.  Could I stay connected in a mindful way to inner peace, that all would work out or would an anxiety storm take over inside of me, regarding our travel plans? Whether or not, again the choice was mine.  

I chose to keep my inner calm throughout working with various customer service agents (there ended up being five, over several hours, due to our travel circumstances) and was able to land comparable flight arrangements circumventing the hurricane. (Even as I write this last statement, my thoughts and prayers go out to the millions affected by the path of the hurricane hoping that they found refuge and safety.) Our flights should easily weather the storm.

We are all affected by weather of some sort, be it meteorological or metaphorical.  It can be cloudy, stormy or clear blue sky depending upon our inner choice of how we will be affected.  Whether or not, we will be caught in the outside updraft of the varying emotions or circumstances showing up in our life or connect to an inner, mindful peace.  

A favorite quote of mine is “ Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain”. 

Whether or not, is up to me.

BJN

9/2/19