“And once the storm is over you wont remember how you made it through you wont even be sure the storm is really over but one thing is certain when you come out of the storm you wont be the same person who walked in”
Accepting storms transforms us in ways we cannot predict.
Sometimes, life feels like we are caught in the middle of a relentless downpour. The wind is howling, the clouds are thick, and it feels impossible to see even an inch in front of us. This beautiful quote by Haruki Murakami reminds us that the struggle itself is a transformative process. It suggests that the true magic isn't just in the sun coming out again, but in the quiet, profound way we are reshaped by the rain. We often focus so much on surviving the chaos that we forget to notice how much we are growing even while we are shivering in the cold.
In our everyday lives, these storms can look like a difficult breakup, a sudden loss, or a season of deep uncertainty about our future. When we are in the thick of it, we are often just trying to keep our heads above water. We don't feel brave or wise; we just feel tired. We might even doubt if the storm has truly passed once the skies begin to clear. But if we look closely, we can see that the person who is standing there in the sunlight is much more resilient, much more nuanced, and much more deeply acquainted with their own strength than the person who first stepped into the rain.
I remember a time when I felt completely lost, much like a little duckling caught in a sudden summer gale. Everything I thought was stable seemed to be washing away, and I spent so many nights wondering if I would ever feel like myself again. I was so focused on waiting for the clouds to vanish that I didn't realize I was actually learning how to swim in rougher waters. When the calm finally returned, I realized I wasn't the same duck I was before. I was a little more cautious, perhaps, but I was also much more capable of navigating the waves.
It is okay if you don't feel 'healed' or 'finished' the moment a hardship ends. It is okay to feel a bit unsure of the new landscape you are standing in. The transformation is often subtle, happening in the quiet moments of endurance rather than in a grand celebration. You are being forged by your experiences, and that is a beautiful, albeit difficult, thing.
As you move through your current season, I want to encourage you to be gentle with yourself. Don't rush to find all the answers or to feel completely 'back to normal.' Instead, try to notice the small ways you are becoming stronger. Take a moment today to reflect on a hard time you've already survived and acknowledge the person you became because of it.