by Christine Davis
I just came back from a cruise with my sister friend, Linda. On our way from Mexico, Hurricane Francine decided to join us in the Gulf of Mexico. I never felt afraid or worried because I knew we would be ok, that we would get home safe and sound. But I was ignorant of the fact of how we would do that. We were in a boat in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico and Francine was showing her power.
If order for us to stay safe, the cruise ship stopped right in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. Even though we didn’t see all the rain from the storm, we got hit continuously by the waves. The waves were so strong they rocked the ship to the point of the drawers opening and closing in passengers' rooms, beds were moving with people lying in them, and storage closets would just fling open throughout the ship. It was impossible to walk in a straight line, with every step we made we didn’t know if it would end up with us on the left or the right side, but we knew it wouldn’t be step would be straight ahead. Even the biggest and strongest people on the ship weren’t able to walk straight. Just a side note…sometimes size isn’t power, there is always something bigger and stronger than us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t knock even the biggest challenge back down to size. Sometimes the power is patiently and quietly walking through it. Back to my story…
The night that we were sitting safely in the Gulf of Mexico, we went to the dining room for dinner. We were feeling the storm internally from headaches to feeling nauseous and being unable to eat. But still, we didn’t see the storm, we were just feeling the strength of it.Â
Sometimes in life, we feel the storms that we must sit and wait out. Even though we don’t have to physically walk through it, we can still feel the effects of it while waiting through it. Through the waiting, anxiety may kick in, and our peace checks out. Having peace through the storm was very difficult but my Soul Sister and I made it through peacefully. Sometimes having someone to look at and know they are sitting through the storm with you gives you the strength you need, no matter how hard it may be to get through.Â
If the hurricane called life is pushing you so hard you aren’t able to walk straight and see the beauty in anything around you, know you aren’t alone, and stay strong through your storm. Because when it’s over you will be able to see the beauty again, and when it’s time for you to begin moving forward in your life, the peace that was missing through the storm will be even more beautiful when you open your eyes past your experience and see it.
As the storm raged on, we found solace in the small moments of calm. Linda and I would look out the window in our stateroom and watch the waves crash against the ship, finding beauty in the chaos. It was in these moments that I realized the importance of perspective. Even during a storm, there is always something to be grateful for, something beautiful to hold onto.
The next morning, the storm began to subside. The waves calmed, and it was a beautiful new day, and with it came a renewed sense of hope and gratitude. We had weathered the storm, and now it was time to move forward, stronger and more resilient than before.
As we docked back in the United States, I couldn’t help but reflect on the journey. The storm had tested us, but it reminded me that no matter how fierce the storm is, we have the strength within us to endure and overcome. And sometimes, it’s the storms that teach us the most valuable lessons about ourselves and life.
So, to all the unstoppable women out there, remember this: Life will throw storms your way, but you have the power to weather them. Embrace the challenges, find strength in your connections, and always look for beauty in the chaos. Because it’s in those moments of adversity that we truly discover our inner strength and resilience.
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