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Millions of people had their lives disrupted these last few weeks by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Having lived in Florida for over 40 years, I am no novice when it comes to weathering a hurricane; let’s just say I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to “batten down the hatches” in preparation. That is both a good and a bad thing. Every storm is different, and too often we may tend to become careless because the last storm wasn’t that bad.
Hurricane Helene took many people by surprise; it was downright weird. We only got 1-3 inches of rain in Clearwater; my pool didn’t even fill to the brim. The storm surge was the real threat on the coastline. We experienced the highest storm surge in the last 100 years, and the rain picked up as it moved toward Georgia, Tennessee, and then ravaged North Carolina. Then hurricane Milton shows up a week later and engulfs the entire state of Florida.
I have a dear friend who lives on the water; his house was completely flooded, his boat sank, and he lost all three cars. He has four sons who live on higher ground in Clearwater, and none of them experienced flooding. I asked him why he didn’t take the cars to one of their homes, and he simply said, “Rob, I didn’t think it was going to be that bad, kinda like the last one.” Despite the weather stations warnings about the storm surge, he didn’t believe them. I learned a long time ago that advice is worthless unless you act on it.
The quote "Storms may bring chaos, but they also bring clarity" suggests that while challenging or tumultuous situations (like hurricanes) can create confusion and disruption, they often lead to a clearer understanding of what truly matters. In the midst of chaos, people might gain new insights, reevaluate their priorities, or discover inner strength. The difficulties faced during a "storm" can ultimately clarify values, relationships, and goals, helping us see things from a fresh perspective once the storm has passed. I am so lucky … All my family and friends survived … everything else is fixable or replaceable. As my dad used to say, “I’m on the top side of the green grass, so I’m good.”
Hurricanes may bring destruction, but they also bring new beginnings. One of the most powerful, truthful, and useful quotes I have ever read is, “This too shall pass.” Our lives are not determined by what happens to us; they are determined by how we react to what happens. Could we have planned better? Could we have prepared better? Could we have heeded the warnings, listened to the experts, and taken their advice? Well, that is on us. What did we learn that we can do differently next time?
Don’t ask, “Why did this happen?” It’s a hurricane; they happen. Having a great attitude won’t stop it, either. A positive attitude just helps you get through it. Success is all about being able to deal with whatever is thrown at you. This is where a person's true character emerges. Flexibility, adaptability, resilience, and tenacity become paramount.
When your world is in chaos, clarity becomes critical. You don’t stop hurricanes. You didn’t cause them, and worrying about it sure as hell won’t fix it. Only with clarity will you be able to get through it. Take a deep breath and understand: it may be a bad day, week, or month, but it is not a bad life. Take solace in the words of Joshua J. Marine: “Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”