The rainbow’s impermanence is wonder

Heart

How are you Friend?

Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks for asking.

Except for a couple weeks ago I saw the most incredible rainbow. The colors were on fire, it spanned the entire sky. It was even a double rainbow too 🌈 🌈 🔥 

It wasn’t a raincircle, those are rare, but still . . . it stopped me in my tracks.

Now I’m just sad, because I miss that rainbow, you should have seen it!

Ha!

Never heard anybody say they regret, miss, or anticipate seeing a rainbow. Come on. Never heard: ‘So when do you think we’ll see the next rainbow?’ 😁 

We accept intuitively that rainbows are temporary.

Clouds shift, storms come and go, and the wind blows through our sky. Hang on to the banister!

That’s why when we see one 🛑 we stop everything to take in that moment, because it’s beautiful, and because it’s ephemeral. Just like . . . today. Like our life.

Therefore, we say: ‘Oooh look a rainbow!’ Right? » ‘Hurry, look over there’. Before what?

Right. Before it’s gone 🍃 

We don’t just accept this transient nature, we embrace, we lean in » Hurry look Friend!!

The truth is: I’ve never given a second thought about any of the rainbows I’ve seen over the years. Zero. Hmm.

Am I a rainbow? Are you? Is it possible?

When my brother died unexpectedly a decade ago, I grasped at the remaining threads of his colors. 100? Between you and me, I still do. Is that okay 🤷‍♂️

Everyone you love, in one or another will exit your life here on Earth. Either by circumstance, or at least death. I’m still trying to accept that.

That client you want, that deal you want to close, that house, that acquisition, that career, that red hot lover, ooh so bad, you grasp, you may even get them/it, you may win the trophy too 🏆️ 

But even when you get what you want—that too will just be temporary.

That money locked in your account, big money, small money, it’s not actually yours. Even though I login and like to ogle it. Soon that too, will be in someone else’s hands in some way 💸💸 

Amazing or awful stormy sky, that unique sky, never repeats again.

Our time here together on InspoLetter? It’s just a gust blowing through.

My son turns 18 next week. He’s excited. Big plans. Bro is going places.

Between us though, I’m a little sad. The once vibrant rainbow is fading from my house—and I can’t stop it. Is he a rainbow?

Is money a rainbow? Health? Is your lover? The trophy house? . . . Am I? Is it possible?

Therefore. . . instead of expecting (really demanding) permanence, I’m simply appreciating my rainbows today 🌈 

Before what?

Right. Before it’s gone 🌪️

Mind 🌞 

🌈 Most rainbows last less than two minutes.

In 1994, a 6 hour rainbow occurred in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, arching over the city and surrounding hills.

23 years later, a new 9-hour standing record rainbow occurred in Taipei in 2017.

Both were temporary 😜 

Soul ⚡️ 

Thanks to subscriber Kyle (a rainbow master) who suggested this one:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,— act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o’erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o’er life’s solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.

— Psalm of Life (Poem, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Thanks for joining us today!

If we made your day better, consider forwarding to one friend before this rainbow fades🙃