APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS
They say, “April showers bring May flowers!” Is this just a reminder to wear a raincoat or a clever way to say that storms won’t last forever? Either way you owe it to yourself to enjoy the sunshine.
When weathering the storm it is important to recognize the traits you’ve enabled as good ones or the opposite. I avoid the term bad because there's useful lessons to be learned in either scenario. If depression is your greatest adversary, there are several resources, hotlines and support groups at the ready to help. You don’t have to fight that fight alone, and it’s best not to. Whatever your coping mechanism, make sure it isn’t working against you. If getting a grip on your finances is the goal, then buying a new jacket just because it's raining isn’t the best idea. “Do I need these items, or do I just want them?” These questions will save you from months of credit card debt and added money problems. No one’s perfect, but even that is not an excuse to avoid addressing bad habits.
The idea that storms are only momentary is a beautiful silver lining in the middle of a disaster. Even the worst pain you could imagine won’t endure forever. Though relieving, this ideology doesn’t make the pain less real. Be kind to yourself. Be mindful to not gaslight yourself while you're in the midst of the storm. Doing so only makes you less prepared when this situation spins out of the wheel again. Recognizing the rain in your life only empowers you to put on a jacket before going outside. Stay dry, but jump in a puddle from time to time.
