When (Natural) Disaster Strikes

This post was written in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene and then posted weeks later once internet was restored. When hard times hit again, these are the lessons I want to remember . . .

Life is fragile. Sometimes I forget just how fragile until an unexpected circumstance puts cracks in my routine.

Like a hurricane.

Home alone in a neighborhood without power, I watch our modern conveniences shut down, and the cracks spiderweb. Traffic lights become four-way, eight-lane games of chicken. Roads become graveyards for uprooted trees and splintered poles, shedding countless leaves and lifeless wires. The fridge becomes a ticking timebomb filled with spoiling food.

But not as spoiled as I am.

Neighbors have trees in their roofs. Friends' homes are flooded. At least six towns are completely destroyed. Other lives have bigger, deeper cracks than mine. So I suppress my anxiety, and it slowly drains my battery--like a live current running beneath a cracked casing of false calm.

Uncertainty. Upheaval. Survivor's Guilt.

"How do I keep from shattering?"

Think Ahead . . .

What practical steps can you take right now to make your life smoother and safer in the rough days ahead? What can you control?

. . . Don't Fret Ahead

What can't you control? Don't fixate on that. Redirect your thoughts so you live one day, one hour at a time.

Stop Guilt . . .

Yes, other people are hurting worse than you. And yes, your stress is real. Smothering your stress with guilt won't lift your spirits or help others.

. . . Create Joy

It takes effort to focus on the good when faced with loss. It's not callous or naive to stay positive. It's how you stay sane. Look for silver linings; keep humor alive; list the things you're grateful for each day.

Reach out for Help . . .

Find friends. Call family. Living in isolation makes your thoughts even darker than your power outage.

. . . Reach out to Help

The worst disasters can bring out the best in communities. What can you share? A donation, a charging station, a hot shower, a hug, a prayer, a "how are you?"

When normalcy gets thrown out the window, don't throw kindness, art, prayer, and laughter out with it. The things that help you thrive when life's good are the same things that help you thrive when life's bad.

Let's pick up the pieces. Then unapologetically keep shining through the cracks.

Especially when the lights go out.