No Matter the Weather.

Today is the Super Bowl. I know it is a football game that determines the best teams in the NFL.  And, as far as my knowledge about the Super Bowl extends, that is it. So, for everyone’s sake, I will not attempt to structure this email around it. I do want to acknowledge that football is important in some families and the Super Bowl is a time where everyone watches the game together. If you fit into that category and are having a hard day, know yo are not alone. I am always looking at the meanings I give things. Today can be a day where you are watching the game without your person, OR, it is a day you get to spend watching football with your person, only in a different form. Talk to them and yell about wrong calls together. See how that feels.

Now, many of you know, I was in Saint Martin this week. I spent 5 days out of the freezing temperatures of New Jersey. I was was with my parents spending time together on the beach, eating meals, having drinks (even my mom who does not drink had a few sips of a Mudslide in honor of Lauren) and doing a whole lot of relaxing.

While in Saint Martin, it was easy to let go of the stressors of life. Waking up and listening to the sound of the water was soothing to the soul. On Thursday I checked my Ring doorbell to watch the snow fall. It was still easy just to let the stress of cold weather roll right off my back.

I came back to New Jersey on Friday and all of sudden, all the heaviness of life returned. It was cold, it was grey, and there was so much to do to recuperate from the travel. This morning I had to shovel because the snow returned.

This reminds me of my grief. Some days it will be sunny and bright and easy to deal with anything that comes my way (if you have not experienced this yet, it is coming). Other days are dark, grey and cold. On these dark days, grief comes on hard and it takes a bit to recover. The thing to remember is that surviving the dark days builds your resiliency. It is like lifting weights to make you stronger. The heavier weights you lift and the more consistently you do it, the stronger you get. It is building your character.

You have no control of the outside weather. There are going to be sunny days, rainy days, snowy days, hot days and cold days. You do have control on your inner weather (what you think, feel and do). So, spend time learning to manage you inner weather regardless of what the outside weather is doing.

GO SPORT.

Blessings,

Jason