I had to face several storms in my life. Some of them just washed away all I had. But none of them took away all I was.

When I think about them, I realise that they made me stronger. They made me question my life, the way I saw it, the way I was living it, they made me take decisions to protect me from new storms to come. And they anchored my core values to my self.

That’s propably why I don’t fear challenges. I embrace them when they come on my path. I know they will teach me lessons, help me get rid of what is useless for the rest of my journey. I know I will grow, I will learn, and probably be a better person afterwards…

Of course, being in the middle of a storm, unless you are safe in a warm cosy place, is not where you want to be. It’s hard, realy tough. But if you have values and ethics strong enough to face it, then you can just watch it and let it go through your life and out of it.

And I think that it was while in the core of the storm that I really felt alive. It helped me see what was important and what wasn’t. It made me think  about myself and what kind of person I wanted to be while facing it. And it made me stronger, with the firm belief that I will go through it, and that it will bring me something. With time, and experience, I learned to be pretty still and calm when dealing with a storm, watching and listening to each detail, to learn everything it has to teach me so I would remember why I needed to be taught this. I accepted storms, and the fact that they were part of my path, that I had to face them. I also learn to believe that I would make it, that I will get out of them, different, with new skills and humility.

To be honest, I can be apocalyptic too, when needed. Not to destry anyone, but to unveil the truth. Most of the time, when I have to deal with a difficulty or a challenge, I tend to do it the soft way, but if needed, if I am pushed so far that I can’t see any other option, I can be apocalyptic. I don’t really like it, but those who had to face this aspect of my personnality tend to think twice before trying it again. They also understand I had to do it, to bring balance back. Let’s say it’s part of who I am. I chose to be soft and quiet, to let go, but I still have my limits… I need to remind them where they are, sometimes…

Storms can be destructive. But they also can put us in a position that allows us to start on a better ground, a new, deeper, safer one. Then it’s up to us to build something on it, something that storms can’ destroy anymore.

So here is your challenge:

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One card a week 51

Quote: “Storms make trees take deeper roots.” Dolly Parton

Pattern: toodle

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Here are the rules of the challenge:

• Each thursday, I’ll give you a quote and a pattern to play with. You can use both, you can use only one of them, it’s up to you.
• You have till the next wednesday to make your card and share it with us in the facebook group (just ask to be added, and I will open the doors wide open to you )
• The goal of this challenge it just to offer yourself a time to have fun with pens and cards, to ponder on words, to enjoy a ME time. We tend to forget about ourselves so easily! And sharing is such a beautiful thing to experiment in our life!

And here is my card: