I have a better appreciation for storm clouds passing and tornado sirens ending, now that I live in a region where that’s the new norm for me. I intentionally never speak of the region in which I live and often refer to the East Coast and more specifically Brooklyn NY; because that’s where my heart is. It’s where I was born and raised. It’s home. 

“Life…”, as I find myself repeating here of late quite a bit, “…has a way of leveling the playing field“. There are times however, where we wished we were not the survivors left to tell the stories or the testimonies of that which we have survived. 

Just ask anyone in therapy for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or anyone dealing with Survivors Guilt after the fire that consumed property and loved ones. Maybe you have to look no further than your mirror to find someone who regrets living to tell the tale. 

Love, matters of the heart, relationships gone awry and temptation can bring out the best and worst in us. Forcing us to dig deep and pull on survivor skills we never knew were deeply embedded. The tragedy however, can include our never wanting to be the “poster child” for that manner of victory. 

After. 

After the tornado sirens have subsided and the storm clouds have passed and the dust has settled and the smoke has cleared and you’re left with remains and remnants; you will see a new version of you. 

Don’t be afraid of the sound of your new voice when you hear it. Just be determined to fight for its existence and its preservation as hard as you fought for the preservation of others. 

Love you to life and on purpose🌹e

P.S. If you’re having a hard time coping, that’s totally normal. Everyone has a different threshold of pain. Things on the news can serve as a trigger as well as pleasant conversation overheard at a restaurant. Don’t be so hard on yourself…there are people you can talk to. 

Here are a few resources below:

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 1-800-273-8255

http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

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