There is no bad weather, only bad clothing

Looks like bad weather coming up. I’d like to go for a walk today, but it will probably rain again.

I hear the words of my friend’s mother, a pragmatic Oregon native:

“There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.”

I have good clothing: I own an umbrella. I have waterproof shoes. A raincoat and comfy sweater hang in my closet.

There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.

This strikes me as a useful metaphor for much of life. There are things you can control, and there are things you can’t.

Bad weather is going to happen

You can’t control the weather, but you can prepare for it. You can also choose your attitude in any given moment.

You can choose to complain that the rain is keeping you from doing things you want, or you can see the rain as part of the natural cycle of things and equip yourself to be successful in the conditions you encounter.

This is not to say that life is without tragedy. You can’t wish away tragedy with a positive attitude. That leads to toxic positivity, which can be just as destructive as unwarranted pessimism.

But there are many ways you can keep a positive attitude in life, set yourself up for success, and foster a resilient spirit, so when the clouds show up, you can still make the most of every day.

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Compassion fatigue can hit anyone in a caring role. RELIT: How to Rekindle Yourself in the Darkness of Compassion Fatigue provides practical, relevant, actionable advice on avoiding and overcoming compassion fatigue and caregiver burnout. Seventeen different experts from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and professions tell their personal stories and share their hard-earned wisdom in this book that’s been called a “must-read for anyone in a caring role.”

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