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Susan Steen: Rain, the Golden Rule and other true sayings



Susan Steen

“April showers bring May flowers.” — Proverb

Finally, May has arrived, and with it comes a sense of encouragement for me (hoping for warmer temperatures and less rain).

While there have been a few clouds, so far, the rain has yet to fall. Of course, it’s early in the month, and things could change. As a personal ritual, I begin each month by uttering the word “rabbit” three times upon waking, positive it will usher in good days. Though it may not really bring me good luck, it sets a hopeful tone for the days ahead.

Some believe the tradition began in Britain, while others attribute it to the Celtics, but in my childhood, my mother told me it was the way to start the month. April may not be the rainiest month and the flowers in May sometimes are not always be the prettiest, but there’s comfort in the possibility, I think. Slogans, sayings, and traditions offer some solace during difficult times. Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit will at least make me smile, and I’m fairly certain showers bring flowers.

I’ve never been one to dwell on “woe is me” or “why me?” when facing hard days. Life’s challenges are part of the journey, and good times usually follow. The proverb, not necessarily a literal truth regarding April and May, holds value for me when life feels overwhelming.

Imagine surviving the torrential showers of The Great Depression. It must have been challenging to envision flowers sprouting from such hardships. However, things did improve, and many positive outcomes arose from that period. To this day, we reap the “May flowers” that followed: Social Security, FDIC, SEC, TVA, and CCC — programs that have made a lasting impact. America rallied, and one of the lessons learned included the importance of presidential term limits, leading to the 22nd Amendment. 

Those flowers are still blooming in people’s lives, as we can see in some meaningful examples:

With the recent bank failures, we’ve seen how the FDIC is still providing hope in the insurance provided to depositors.

If you are retired, you are likely especially thankful for the Social Security program still existing. In total, we can thank that program for Social Security Disability, Retirement, and Death Benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Adult Child Disability Benefits, and Disabled Widow Benefits.

And the Tennessee Valley Authority is still providing power, along with managing the fifth-largest river system in our country to “control flooding, make rivers easier to travel, provide recreation, and protect water quality.” 

There are other slogans that have been helpful or encouraging to me. Maybe you’ve heard some of them, and perhaps you have some you will share.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. (And it’s all small stuff). It’s easy to let things upset us, but most of us would really like to be able to let things roll off our shoulder more easily, and we can. Did you make a typo? Don’t sweat it. Just let someone know, fix it if you need to, and let it go. Or maybe you spilled something or broke something, and you’re upset with yourself. Someone else might be upset with you, too, but will any amount of anger or upset change what happened? Nope. So, apologize if that’s appropriate, but don’t let that ruin your day or your relationship. After all, a tornado or fire could come and do more than break things. Put it in perspective.

A similar quote might be, How important is it? It’s a great slogan to help us reflect on what really matters to us, and it can help us choose our actions in a situation. How important is spending time with your child or your parent? How important is impressing your employer? How important is being true to your own values? We can make choices and set priorities regarding our time and our money when we ask ourselves How important is whatever it is?

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Yes, that’s The Golden Rule, and it’s often one of the most difficult sayings to adhere to, as well as one of the most meaningful in our relationships.  Sitting with this for a minute, I think of how I’d like other people to treat me. I’d like them to pay a compliment every now and then, think I’m doing the best I can with all the things in life, listen when I am speaking, and be forgiving when I get something wrong. What about you? Do you demand that people do things for you that you aren’t willing to offer in return?

The obstacle is the way. This originates from Marcus Aurelius’ “what stands in the way becomes the way,” and was expanded upon by Ryan Holiday. Every obstacle we face in life is an opportunity for growth. Consider communication problems in a relationship, a partner or a friend perhaps. The communication issues are hindering the relationship, and maybe you think there’s just no way around ending the relationship, but the stoic thinking says that isn’t true. By accepting and shifting our mindset, we can actively listen, seek professional help, and develop new skills. The same obstacle that hindered us becomes the way to a stronger connection. Not always easy, but definitely doable, if you value the relationship. 

Here we are, not sweating the small stuff, remembering what’s important and what isn’t, treating others the way we want to be treated, embracing the obstacles, and looking for the flowers that will almost always come after life’s showers. It’s May, and whatever lies in store, we can confidently tackle each day armed with pithy slogans that guide us towards our better selves.

Maybe you’ve found a few others along the way to share. I’d love to hear and be encouraged!

Susan Black Steen is a writer and photographer, a native Tennessean and a graduate of Austin Peay State University. With a firm belief that words matter, she writes and speaks to bring joy, comfort and understanding into each life. Always, she writes from her heart in hopes of speaking to the hearts of others. She can be reached at stories@susanbsteen.com.

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