“Once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain: When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” – Haruki Murakami
There are times when I’m still disheartened by the way certain parts of my life have turned out.
When we’re young, and filled with hope and optimism, we never dream of the hardships which might befall us. We just keep on living and believing that life will be as we imagine it inside our heads.
But life doesn’t quite work out that way. Even what’s perceived to be the happiest of circumstances can crumble unexpectedly – burdened by the weight of pride and selfishness.
I agree with Murakami whole-heartedly when he says, “you won’t be the same person who walked in.” How could you be?
When our heart is badly wounded by someone who once professed their unconditional love for us, it’s quite difficult, if not impossible to remain unchanged. It’s that changing which allows us to cope through the ordeal – to see a light at the end of the tunnel. The person who emerges, while still representative of their former self, is now stronger and even more guarded when it comes to opening their heart so freely in the future.
They understand that everything in life, the bad and the good, is temporary. So enjoy the good while you have it, and cherish each and every day the storm clouds manage to stay far in the distance of your reality.
Robert Schuller once remarked, “Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.”
Few of us can say that our lives have turned out exactly as we wanted them to. But don’t allow the storms along your journey to stop you from moving on. The only power you should allow them, is the power to teach you an invaluable lesson.
