The Winds Of Change Are Always Blowing

You know the saying, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes and it will change.” Well, maybe you haven’t heard that saying if you live in an area where there are two seasons: rainy and dry.

It holds true for my native Michigan and later Montana, where I spent most of my adult life.

Here in the Phoenix desert, not so much. There are days after days of blue skies and heat. It would appear the weather is in stasis for weeks at a time. If you don’t like the weather, tough noogies. It’s not going to change in 5 minutes. Unless the 115 degree nudges up to 119 degrees. (Don’t forget to drink your water!)

I like predictability. I enjoy waking up and knowing I don’t need to bring an umbrella or scrape ice off the car in December. If we could schedule a daily downpour, that would be especially lovely, thank you very much. 3:00pm would be perfect.

Nope. That’s not the way it works. Even the desert gets weather changes, as the past several nights we have enjoyed thunderstorms in the evening. It’s not totally random, we are in the monsoon season.

Fair weather and the status quo are the easy chair for human security. Nothing to see here! Isn’t this comfy? It brings a sense of control and stability-something our nature seeks. We like patterns and predictability.

Oh wait, is that a widdle fluffy cloud I see on the horizon? Aw, look at that gentle breeze riffling through Palo Verde leaves. A little sprinkle of rain would be lovely, but that probably won’t happen.

And while I’m fetching another glass of iced green tea (ginger pear, mmmmmm!) and pondering the joy of predictability, I hear the wind pick up.

The lonely little underachiever cloud has gathered a following and has morphed into a bank of billowing clouds, its fringes dipped in gray.

As Pooh Bear would say, “Tut, tut, looks like rain!”

Slowly and then suddenly.

Time to check the weather app. Or do it the old fashion way-step outside and observe the neighbor’s flag is now standing sideways at attention.

Kaboom! Make sure the car windows are rolled up. And then ponder if hail damage is a covered event with my insurance.

Weather teaches life lessons, me thinks.

First, even if everything seems static and predictable, there is always movement taking place. High pressure and low pressure are engaged in a constant dance, from a gentle pas de deux to the other extreme-let’s call it an alcohol fueled dysfunctional family reunion with 30 years of undealt with offenses.

Second, weather teaches me a Buddhist adage-Relax, nothing is in control. To me, this means realize that even though difficulty is surrounding me at the present moment, this will change. That also goes the other way, too. When things are going swimmingly, enjoy it because this too is passing.

It’s not fatalistic thinking. It’s actually quite freeing.

The winds of change teach me to live in the present moment. To enjoy the rain when it falls, marvel at the power in the lightning, and observe how wildlife rolls with the changes. (Hint, hint, you won’t find them bitching about how it’s too hot-cold-rainy-blah, blah, blah.)

I have been experiencing a microburst of change in my post breast cancer treatment world. (My god, it feels good to write “post treatment” even though I still have one more upcoming oncology appointment.)

This past week my house sold, my car will be sold and my beloved cat, Ruthie, is going to a new home. They are events I knew were inevitable as the park where I’ve lived is closing.

I anguished over the decisions. Do I wait to sell and risk losing a chunk of change by waiting for the drop-dead deadline to happen and then becoming a distressed seller?

I did an experiment. Just an experiment, I told Tom, my partner. I slap a sign in the window. “House for Sale By Owner.” Minimal effort. And at a price that was higher than my broker recommended.

What do I have to lose?

A family drove by the next day. And yesterday-barely a week later, we met at the bank to close the deal.

It felt like a tail wind and after all the difficulty of the past several months; I enjoyed riding it, terrifying as it is to move again.

This has been no squall-it’s a hurricane! But I am finding peace smack dab in the middle of it.

Here’s another thing about the winds of change. They often bring blessings and unexpected surprises. Like the time I discovered a flock of Cedar Wax Wings in our tree-they had gotten blown off their migratory path and delighted us for a few days.

I’m not sure where these winds will blow. I will trim my sails as best I can toward the goals and dreams I’ve harbored. I will also rest and appreciate the days when the winds are soft and caressing and the clouds are wispy.

The words of the breast cancer surgeon are taking on new life for me: “This is a fresh start.”

The decks are clear. No boobs, no house, no car, no cat, no problem. (I am grateful that “no hair” is not part of that lineup, even though my hair is still shedding.)

This girl’s ready for that fresh start.

Oh, just in case you’re wondering. Central to my fresh start is my loving partner, Tom. We plan on traveling a bit to see our kids while I continue to heal from chemo effects. We will write together, make music, eat too many snackies and laugh until our sides hurt while doing so.

Our goal, our desire, is to spend our lives encouraging and loving others.

The cost to do this is to ride the winds of change and see where it takes us.

Theresa Winn is a certified life coach and spiritual director. She is busy living and working on her next book, “Bye-Bye Boobs-Breast Cancer, Boobectomies and Badassery”. In the next few weeks, she will be busy packing boxes, a task that should be a little easier with no boobs to get in the way. Consider buying her a coffee.