In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, it is difficult to process the loss of life and widespread destruction and suffering. Although most of us who live on the coast have been through bad storms before, the recovery process is always daunting and seems insurmountable – especially in these first few days after the storm.
An op-ed piece entitled “Changing the trajectory of tragedy after Hurricane Michael” was published in The Tallahassee Democrat on the 13th. One of the main take-aways and what I do believe we as coastal people innately have is empathy. What happened in Mexico Beach could easily have happened in Gulf Shores or in any of our neighboring communities.
The article mostly resonated with me about what we do have control over in the face of and in the wake of these monster storms that seemingly keep coming.
“But that’s not to say we have no control. Maybe not over the weather, but we control the aftermath.
What if we countered a cyclone of damage with a hurricane of heroism and restoration?
Which brings us to the “butterfly wings effect.”
This is the scientific theory that the movement of a butterfly’s wings over Africa can lead to the tiny breeze that eventually spawns a hurricane.
But it also works with human nature.
How can you bring the “butterfly effect” to this storm’s aftermath?
Maybe it’s letting someone in who is trying to make a tough left-hand turn at a powerless traffic signal.
Maybe it’s giving a little extra time, effort or money to a neighbor in need. And maybe it’s defining “neighbor” not just as someone on your street, but in your neighborhood, city or state.
Maybe it’s taking a moment to give a kind word to someone who came into work to serve you a meal, or stock your favorite store’s shelves.
Maybe it’s parlaying the silence of our electronics into a new way of life, not driven by the rancor of social media and cable TV news.”
The pain from this storm is still raw. The recovery feels overwhelming. But what each of us can do today is be a little more sensitive, a little more helpful, a little more patient, and a little more kind in our words and deeds – to everyone we encounter. And by doing so, we are helping the recovery process of neighbors who have been hit hard.
We will at LuLu’s continue to track the recovery efforts in the panhandle. It will be an enduring process that goes on long after the prime-time news has left the area. We will continue to use social media as a platform to raise awareness and get word out about how we can all help the panhandle recover. #WeAreInThisTogether
Click here to read the full piece in the Tallahassee Democrat.
Sending you all much peace and Gumbo Love, today and always. Love, LuLu
