Light Above the Clouds

By  |  27 Comments

we all have dark days, that is part of the human experience. apparently my dark days were due because the last few days have been dim. could i put anymore words that start with a ‘d’ in that sentence? i think not.

i tried changing up some of my medication and had a horrible reaction to a new one. it still feels too fresh to get into details but i am finally feeling somewhat better. it was scary. it was dark. it felt endless.

i hopped a plane yesterday to meet my husband in albany, new york. we are keynoting an event together for a group of entrepreneurs and their spouses today. i’m excited and nervous. thank goodness i got my medication sorted out before i had to travel or be on stage!

as i drove to the airport at 5am, it was dark and dreary. ice covered our plane and snow started falling. this wasn’t helping me feel much better after days of feeling foggy and cloudy myself.

as soon as our plane was deiced, the engines roared and we sped down the runway. three minutes after the wheels left the earth, we broke through the clouds. the sun was waiting to greet us.

a few years ago, i was talking to a flight attendant and asked how his day was going. he said, “it’s hard to have too terrible of a day when i know my job means i get to see the sun every day, no matter what’s going on beneath the clouds.”

i never before considered that pilots and flight attendants get to see sunshine every day they venture above the clouds. what a great outlook, especially because not all passengers are pleasant or kind.

no matter the type of day you’re having, brighter days are ahead. behind the snow and rain and darkness and despair, there is sun and light and warmth just beyond the clouds. it’s often hard to remember this when we are in the thick of gloominess but light is right behind it.

do what you feel needs to be done to weather the storm. for me that included a trip to urgent care, atlas staying with her mimi and me curling up and sleeping for hours. it also meant no alcohol, no sugar, no intense TV and lots of deep breaths.

know that dark days may come but they will also go. the sun is always shining, whether you can currently see it or not.

27 Comments

  1. Mary Ann Gordon

    November 8, 2017 at 6:49 am

    Beautifully stated and as well as encouraging Chelsea. SAD is upon us, I’m sure your hopeful words will benefit many. Thank you for posting in the midst of busy days. Someone is needing inspiration and they will find it in your keynote. Take care and the best to you!

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 7:46 am

      thank you mary ann for your comment! i am feeling much better, thank goodness. despite losing 50% of my voice, the keynote still went great 🙂

  2. Melinda

    November 8, 2017 at 7:02 am

    You have no idea how much I needed to read this tonight. Thanks.

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 7:47 am

      i am glad it came at the right time for your melinda. sending hugs <3

  3. Claire

    November 8, 2017 at 4:44 pm

    Thank you for being so raw and open with your readers. I love how you say : “it’s often hard to remember this when we are in the thick of gloominess, but light is right behind it”.
    Happy to hear you did what you needed to do to weather the storm! We all need to remember that 🙂

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 7:48 am

      i appreciate your comment claire, as always. i am glad i had the support to weather the storm the way i needed to! hope you are doing well!

      • Claire

        November 15, 2017 at 9:28 pm

        Thank you my dear. Keep the posts coming 🙂

  4. Sheila Cameron

    November 8, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    Great analogy, Chelsea. Sometimes we need to spend a bit of time in the dark, but it helps to know that the light is always within reach and will come again.

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 7:48 am

      you are so right, we do have to spend some time in the dark but that light is in reach. thank you sheila!

  5. Jennifer Haston

    November 8, 2017 at 10:39 pm

    Thank you for this. It’s been a gloomy week over here as well. Thankful that brighter days are here for us both.

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 7:52 am

      i’m sorry it’s been a gloomy time over there too jennifer. hope the light is shining more now for you!

  6. chelsea jacobs

    November 9, 2017 at 6:50 am

    “it’s often hard to remember this when we are in the thick of gloominess but light is right behind it.” This. Yes.

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 7:54 am

      glad it resonated, chelsea 🙂

  7. Audrey

    November 9, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    I’m so sorry that you were drowning and feeling so dark recently 🙁 I hate it when my balance is so thrown off that hopelessness starts to sink in. I’m so glad you got everything straightened out before your travels and that you had family and support around you to help you get through the storm. If you even need anything feel free to reach out to me!!
    And what a wonderful outlook from that flight attendant! I’ve never thought about their daily sunshine either!

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 7:57 am

      i am so glad for family nearby too – i called my mom in uncontrollable sobs and she was over in 20 minutes. i do not take that for granted. thanks also for your offer of an ear too, it’s much appreciated audrey! isn’t that such an awesome realization from the flight attendant. the light is really always there!

  8. Alanna

    November 10, 2017 at 10:19 am

    Thank you so much for being so open and honest about your struggles. I’m sure it’s not easy to share what you’re going through with the world but I so appreciate and admire what you’re doing. I hope through doing this you feel strengthened and supported as I know I do as a reader. It is so helpful to know that you’re not alone in the struggles that most of us deal with silently.

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 8:15 am

      i appreciate your kind words, alanna. thank you. i definitely feel supported and strengthened after sharing and hearing that other people feel this and appreciate it (like you, thank you)!

  9. Elyse @ Just Murrayed

    November 10, 2017 at 11:52 am

    I’m sorry you are feeling dark these days, Chelsea! I know it can be difficult to be honest about your struggles, but I do love how honest you always are! You will get through this.

    I LOVE what that flight attendant said, what an amazing perspective!

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

      thank you for your words of encouragement elyse. this week has much more light to it, thank goodness. it really is such a great perspective that the sun is always shining even if we can’t see it!

  10. Suzanne

    November 12, 2017 at 7:41 pm

    Sending hugs…

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 8:18 am

      hugs received and appreciated. thank you suzanne!

  11. gia

    November 12, 2017 at 8:50 pm

    what a gift to see the sun everyday… I love that. It made me smile- thank you.

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 8:18 am

      i am glad, gia. it really is such a great perspective to have! it serves as a helpful reminder as well

  12. Charles Roy Mencke

    November 13, 2017 at 7:52 am

    Chelsea, wonderful post with powerful words. We all have to hold on to unbounded hope for the future.

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 8:19 am

      thank you for reading and for your comment, charles. we sure do have to hold onto that unbounded hope, especially in this less-than-positive political climate

  13. Dawn

    November 13, 2017 at 2:39 pm

    Its so important for me to just be with my emotions and anxiety when it arises and to know what makes or better—looking after myself like going to the gym, engaging in something artistic or creating something always makes me feel better.

    • chelsea

      November 15, 2017 at 8:20 am

      i am so glad that you know what helps you get through that anxiety, dawn. the gym and creativity are great ideas and i’m glad to hear they help you feel better!