Dancing in the rain

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”

– Leo F. Buscaglia

I used to think I was the worst worrier in the world. I worried about every single little thing right down to every big thing. I worried about what I was going to look like in a dress, “what if it doesn't fit?", I worried about approaching people, “what if they don't reciprocate?", I worried about tests and exams, "what if I don't pass them?", I worried about the future, “what if I end up as a poor, unfulfilled person?". Then one day I saw something that changed my life forever. I was walking on a bushy path on a rainy day worrying," what if a snake comes out to bite me?" "What if nobody had taken my clothes in and then when I get home I'll have nothing to wear?"; When I saw a child. A little child right there under the rain dancing! I was astounded.

She looked so contented and happy, oblivious of the world around her. I quickly looked around for her mother and there she was too...under the rain! I was horrified. What mother would leave her child under the rain? "Ma'am, why not go to a shelter?” I asked. "There is no shelter for us. My husband is late and his relatives have just sent us out of our house. We have nowhere to go. Then it just started to rain and I thought it was a great idea to dance in the rain. Do you know what I'm trying to teach my little girl?" "No..."I said still mystified. She replied," I'm teaching her that what she sees outside is nothing compared to what she believes in her heart.

What good would it do crying and beating ourselves up over something we have no control over? I see myself as a very privileged person. I have life. I have good health and even though I have no idea where my next meal would come from, I'm quite content. Do you know why?" "No", I said. "We passed by a cemetery not too long ago and I realized that those people there have no chance at all for a better life. But I do because I'm still alive. And where there is life, there definitely is hope. It will get better because after the rain comes the sun. So you might as well dance in the rain while you wait for the sun". You see that day, I went out to buy some food from the next street before it just begun to rain. I handed the food to the woman and her child. I had shelter, and I had life and health. That in itself is a big blessing. Let the rain drench my clothes if it may but I decided that I was going to dance right there. I gave a twirl and a turn as I joined the little girl to dance. She smiled and nodded at me as she too gave a bow.