We all go through hard times, some harder than others, some for longer than others, but rest assured, at some point in the future, if you haven’t already, you will go through a hard time or two.
And sometimes life is full of wonder and amazement and the things we love and crave and cheer and want more of.
I hope you are filled with wonder and amazement right now. That your life is so good you can’t believe it. If it is, I encourage you to pause for just a beat and look around you.
Do you see someone else struggling to smile, having a hard time moving ahead, or even someone you see having a hard time doing something that you can assist with?
Be their rainbow in the clouds.
Believe it or not, some people don’t know how to ask for help, don’t know what they need, but they know it’s dark right now, and they’re looking for a clue, a small clue, that will tell them it’s going to be alright. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but sometime it WILL get better.
You can help them – and it’s not that hard.
Recently I went home after 5 days connecting with some of the most amazing people on the planet. My tank was completely empty when I got there and I had little to give – and truth be told, it felt very dark.
These amazing people were my rainbow. Some offered me a smile, a hug, a laugh, a tear, some asked how I was doing – and then listened to my reply, some shared a cup of coffee, or a glass of wine or just some deeper conversation.
Nothing took more than 5 minutes or a lot of thought on their part. And they meant the world to me.
By the time I delivered my presentation, I was refilled and felt alive. And I delivered a great presentation, based on the feedback I received from many.
And I couldn’t have done it without my tank being filled first, with those little things. The small rainbows, lighting the way through the dark clouds.
So I shared some of my rainbows on my trip. I smiled at the people in TSA, even though they didn’t have the pre-check lane open. I smiled and used the names of the people at Starbucks, even though they clearly were frazzled from the not so friendly flyers who needed their coffee at 4:30 in the morning. I shared my table for a few moments so several could regroup and reposition their coffee and their belongings before they headed out to their gate.
Little things. Rainbows in the clouds.
Today, my encouragement to you is simple: if you’re going through the clouds, there is a rainbow for you. You may need to look for it, ask for it, accept it once it is offered to you. And that while it may not be easy to do, it will be worth it. And once you get through the clouds, your rainbow will return, for you to share with someone who needs your rainbow power.
To my friends who shared your rainbows with me, I thank you. You are a gift and I love you so much, and I am thankful for the presence you’ve given me.
Love it, Phil! Thanks for being MY rainbow!