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I woke up early yesterday morning because of an odd, bad dream. After calming myself and becoming fully conscious, I sat in bed deciding to write out thoughts and ideas. I began to hear water falling upon the ground outside, and I initially assumed it was the sprinklers turning on for their daily offering of moisture for the
yard, but no. It was a steady, significant rainfall.
After about an hour, the rain ceased, and I stepped out onto my garden porch to see a full rainbow draped across my neighborhood. It was magnificent.
Each of us is navigating through unique and unchartered times in our lives at this moment in our life's journey. There are some who's daily schedules have been rendered obstacles that are inconvenient while others are having to weather devastating upheaval and change.
Because we are all witnessing the world change in sudden as well as gradual ways, some forever altered, it is vital that we appreciate what is still with us that we are most grateful. I would encourage that it is also vital that we look as well for the rainbow that does exist somewhere in nearly everyone's life story. I included Brené Brown's 2020 Commencement address as one of the
videos in this week's This & That to offer support and inspiration for just these times (at least for me it was helpful). Regardless of whether you are graduating or long-removed from graduation, it is in the taking risks and learning the skills necessary for getting back up that will lead to our best life.
We will have moments when fear overcomes our clearest thinking, but much like a bad dream, it is just that, not real. We feed fear well when the unknowns are many and the foundations we have relied upon suddenly or even gradually, yet over time, reveal a significant shift in a direction that is unsuitable to say the least. Whether it is an institution, a culture, a
community, a family member or a friend who is no longer serving or supporting us in the way we have become accustomed or was promised, we are given an opportunity to explore why it isn't working and find a better way forward. Look for the rainbow.
I am confident from my own journey and the journey our country and our world currently finds itself that we can learn, we can change and we can find the strength to do better, to make better choices, to make a better life for not only ourselves, but our neighbors, community and all humanity. And the best way to do better is to focus on what you can do. Look for the rainbow. Eventually you will find one, and most
likely it will not be when you expect it or on your schedule, but if you keep looking, you will find your magnificent rainbow.
On the blog this week, and included in this week's newsletter is a post I shared titled "A Note from Shannon . . ." . I encourage you as newsletter subscribers to read the letter as it is sharing changes that will be coming to TSLL, including how often I will be releasing this weekly newsletter beginning in the fall. I also share why these changes are being made, and to ease your mind, they are due largely so I can
produce more quality content in other areas such as the cooking show and a new book. For those of you who have already read the post, I want to thank you for doing so and if you shared a comment, I am deeply grateful for your words. The response was beyond my expectations in the most wonderful way. So thank you. Thank you tremendously. I am quite excited for the summer to arrive as school wrapped up this week, and dive into my projects.
Again, as I conclude today's letter to you, it has begun to rain again, a warm, yet genuine rainfall, and I must say, I am comforted. Deeply comforted. Growth, warmth and a reminder that everything is temporary, and that includes frustration so long as we strive forward. Have a lovely weekend, and thank you so very much for subscribing. Until next week, I will see you on the blog.
