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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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SUN BREAKS
When I first moved to the island in 1991, the old-timers counseled me that if I didn't like the weather I should just wait. I thought of that advice this morning as I walked out the door. It was cloudy. There were thin layers of ice on the ground that made the blades of grass crunch as I took each step. Puffs of steam rose from my nostrils with each exhalation. Silently, I urged myself to "just wait" and continued walking into town to take care of errands. Within an hour my tasks were completed, and I'd had several conversations with friends. I was walking back to the house when I realized that something was different. The sky overhead was blue, and the clouds had moved to the north. There were no more puffs of steam rising from my nostrils, and I was getting quite warm in my three layers of clothing. The old-timers had been right. My first year in the Pacific Northwest I was amused by the term "sun breaks." All the meteorologists used the term during the fall, winter, and spring months. It contributes to the tourism statistic that the San Juan Islands enjoy 247 days of sunshine each year. Since some sun breaks are longer than others, I'm sure we do have that many days with a majority of sunshine hours. However, it's a matter of perspective. I suspect that the same is true of my emotional climate. No matter how overcast my inner state gets, there are still some sun breaks that sneak in between the clouds. If I get on with the tasks at hand and just wait, the weather will change. Who knows? I might even have more than 247 days of "sunshine" each year when the stats are calculated. Just thinking about it makes me smile and feel much warmer inside.
© 2005 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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