Whew! What a week it’s been here in Central Texas.
Wildfires seemingly everywhere. Hundreds and hundreds of homes
destroyed – literally incinerated. Thousands of families displaced,
not able to get back into their homes yet…or knowing there
is no home left to go back to.
And 30,000 plus acres of beautiful Bastrop State Park, home of the
awesome pine forests, gone up in smoke and ash.
And it ain’t over yet.
Even as fires are being controlled and most put out, new ones seem
to pop up each day. This is happening because of the extreme
drought we have been suffering since the end of last fall.
I am very thankful that my family, my neighborhood and my small
town of Lago Vista have not been impacted. Sunday through Tuesday,
we literally were surrounded by major fires on all sides of us.
Smoke and ash floated into our yards. The smoky smell and haze
floated about until yesterday.
But… we are safe. For now. And the town’s efforts are mobilized
toward collecting and delivering donated items desperately needed
by our fellow citizens who have been impacted by the fires.
You know, I write often about stress and how we can take steps
to not only manage it, but transform it — from something we may
see as a negative to something we come to see as a force for
good in our lives.
Often, half the battle is relaxing just a bit and taking a step
back from the daily hustle and bustle to consider what is really
important. To get a little clarity and perspective.
But I can tell you, even I, the typically calm one, was feeling
apprehensive for several days.
I think it was the sheer randomness of it all.
We all know how important it is to focus most of our psychic and
emotional energy on those things we can control….and worry
less (or not at all) about those things over which we have no
control.
But…I can tell you for myself, and from talking to neighbors
and friends here, we all were worried and concerned, precisely
because we had NO control.
Yes, we prepared by having “go bags” packed for us and our pets;
by having evacuation routes figured out; and by planning in
advance which items would get packed into the cars first if
we received an evacuation notice.
But even preparing like this was small comfort. Who knew where
next a fire would flame up and begin to rage out of control?
So, now I know how those folks in California feel. Now I have
experienced for myself our version of the infamous “Santa Ana
winds”, those warm winds blowing through the hills, turning small
flames into raging infernos.
And I’ve also experienced the resilience and action orientation
of my fellow townspeople and Texans. People have mobilized to
help. Comfort is being given. Families who have lost their homes
thank god they and their loved ones came out unhurt and vow to
rebuild.
Gotta go. I’m off to drop off some supplies to one of the
donation collection spots in town. It’s the least I can do.
You Can Do It!
Karen
“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
www.BestBreathingExercises.com
Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011