Have rain, have rainbow

CATHERINE DEVRYE

No rain-no rainbows- Dolly Parton.

Have you ever had one of 'those' days when you just can't seem to get motivated to do much of anything at all? You don't feel like doing your school work or the house work-and sometimes can't even be bothered catching up with friends. Don't worry about it because we all have those times, which may seem a strange comment from a motivational speaker and author. Sometimes, we have a valid reason for feeling down in the dumps such as the break up of a personal or professional relationship, rejection, illness or death of a loved one. But, from time to time, it's possible to get down in the dumps for no real reason at all. Just make sure you don't stay there long!

One day, not so long ago, my printer was broken and I felt less than inspired to meet a deadline for a magazine article as I stared at a blank screen. Shifting my gaze outside, all I could see was more bleakness - the gray sky merging as one with the ocean. Constant drizzle made even the horizon invisible - and with each minute I wasted, the deadline was looking larger on this invisible horizon. It reminded me of times in high school when I simply couldn't concentrate enough to study for a test or waited until the very last moment to complete an assignment when I should have been preparing weeks earlier. After a couple of hours of typing nothing but drivel, I decided to do something more productive and go for a walk - making a promise to myself to give the article 100 per cent focus on my return.

The usually crowded beach was nearly deserted apart from a few regulars and king tides had deterred even the most die-hard surfer. A hunched figure walked slowly towards me and I almost passed by on my power walk when Hazel's bright blue eyes smiled and we stopped to chat.

"Isn't it wonderful with hardly anyone here?" she exclaimed. I'd been subconsciously thinking the same thing myself, oblivious to the rain once I started walking.

"Think of all those poor souls inside feeling sorry for themselves. That's not for me" ,chirped the 82-year-old, with her bent over frame looking both frail and surprisingly strong against the howling wind and pounding surf. "You won't find me walking along Stress Street or Depression Road."

This total stranger continued talking and in spite of the freezing wind, felt a warm glow on my cheeks and in my heart. "I used to worry a lot when I was younger. But, now I've learned that there's no point. It's either going to happen or it's not. I've got arthritis and only half a lung but I don't even worry about being sick anymore. If you're sick, there are only two things to worry about. You'll get better or you won't. If you get better, there's nothing to worry about and if you don't, there are only two things to worry about, you'll live or you'll die. If you live, there's noting to worry about. If you die and have lived a good life, there's nothing to worry about. So why worry?" as she shrugged her rounded shoulders and shuffled off with a wink.

Yet how many people never truly 'live' because they're too busy worrying about things which may never be, I thought as I picked up my pace, so pleased to have had this serendipitous meeting with this sole sage of the surf beach. I continued on my walk thinking about Hazel's apt description of people journeying along Stress street or Depression Road. And what about all those others on Anxiety Avenue, Avoidance Alley, Lonesome Lane, Frustration Freeway, Blues Boulevard, Crying Crescent or Heartbreak Highway. Surely, they were all heading for a dead end in life-and without doubt, would waste this day-as I had initially started to.

When you're happy, you seldom stop to notice how happy or sad other people might be but when you're sad, it sometimes seems like everyone else you notice on your path appears happy? So, why not make a point of changing direction and getting a new road map of life to walk down Success Street, Recovery Road, Attitude Avenue, Achievement Alley, Balance Boulevard, Learning Lane, Focus Freeway and Choices Crescent.

These were my thoughts as I came across Jake who had been blind most of his life. Totally oblivious to the grey sky, he frolicked on the beach with the rain on his back, as his owner lovingly took the border collie for his daily walk. Scratching behind his ears I realised that yes, it had started out as one of those days and was now one of those wonderful days because I'd looked at things a little differently. The day wasn't different at all-in fact the weather had worsened but my attitude had improved.

I reminded myself that all clouds have a silver lining and out of darkness comes light. And, although we don't see at the time, we often appreciate the light times more only after we've experienced the darkness of our thoughts.

Light momentarily broke through the clouds, streaming rays like a radiant spotlight on an empty space in the sea-just as Hazel had lit up my life that miserable morning-breaking the pattern of temporary gloom, as the sun shone in my heart and for but a few seconds, a rainbow filled that empty space. I thought about the man made clouds of war and tragedy abounding in so many parts of the world. Give me the dark clouds of nature any day. And for those I'll give thanks.

Returning home, I finished this article almost effortlessly, 82 year old Hazel looked nothing like the voluptuous country and western legend Dolly Parton., but in her own quiet, unassuming way, she had reminded me of:

'No rain-no rainbows'... so go look for your rainbow now!

Catherine DeVrye is a best-selling author and motivational speaker. www.greatmotivation.com

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