This past week, I was fortunate enough to experience what some might call a once-in-a-lifetime event: a total eclipse.
Living in Dallas, TX, we found ourselves perfectly positioned along the path of totality for the eclipse that took place on April 8th. It was truly awe-inspiring! I have to admit, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’m not really a science-focused person but when the moment of totality arrived, it was utterly breathtaking. Everything went dark and it went dark fast. It was wild! Street lights flickered on and silence took over.
Those four minutes of totality left an everlasting impression on me. The tranquility, the stillness, the sense of peace that washed over everything—it was nothing short of magical. My nervous system settled immediately and I found myself at ease. Then, as quickly as it had arrived, the sky lit back up and the world resumed.
Less than 24 hours later, around 3 am, I was very quickly awakened by a fierce thunderstorm. The thunder crashed, the lightning lit up the sky as if it were daytime again and sheets of rain pelted down relentlessly. I lay there, listening. What a stark contrast to the stillness of earlier that day, as I had sat in my front yard, relaxed and still with the quiet magic of the eclipse.
This sudden shift in nature made me reflect on how closely this reflects life as well. We know there will be highs and lows throughout our entire life, until our last breath. The good news is, the calm will come after the storm. The bad news is, there will be storms. If we are prepared for these moments, there is no cause for panic. Much like during the storm that night, I knew it would pass, it wouldn’t stay over my house forever.
It’s funny how we can draw connections between things. These moments helped me realize there are lessons and reminders everywhere around us. Neither state is permanent. Sit in the moment. Soak it in. There is something to learn from all of it.