Lessons from a Tsunami Survivor

Storms will come unexpected. And for some, circumstances can come crashing down like this tsunami. The thing is that all storms share is that they don't stay. -Helga DeSousa, Calmness

As I was doing research for my book, I became fascinated with one of the world's greatest and ugliest of storms:  The Tsunami of 2004. I remember reading about warning signs that some people took heed and managed to save many lives. I also wanted to know about how the survivors coped with the aftermath. I felt that there were lessons here to learn about facing any life disaster.

I came across an article that was in the form of an E-zine written by Elena Welon from www.MatchSeeker.com,She was moved by a former Australian, Bill O'Leary who happened to be on a ship in Open Water when the tsunami hit in Phuket, Thailand. 

O'Leary saw the warning signs. He called hotels on shore warning them to have people clear the beach and take higher ground. When the wave hit, he managed to get his boat to ride on the wave which saved everyone on board as well as his three children. 

When interviewed about his experience, he listed seven main lessons to surviving a storm.  I took the last three which I felt are universal to all of our life storms: 

5. If you cannot run away from the danger, face it with courage.

Jump on the wave and keep your boat straight. Be totally fearless. Fight, if you have to.

6. No matter what happens, keep your cool.

There is no sense in panicking. Don't let your fears or anger overwhelm you. In any situation, the first question you should ask yourself is, "What can I do about it?" Decide on the course of actions and carry on.

7. You are priceless.

You life is thousands times more valuable than anything you own. If you smell danger, forget about your purse, cash or a family memorabilia. Even if you have nothing, you will be still the same person you are today.

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Welon, Elena. "7 Great Life Lessons from a Tsunami Survivor."Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8390

Out of the three, I think we tend to forget about number 7. We lose focus about what is important when we get swept into the sea of worry, overwhelm, and high paced living. You are really are priceless. So is your family, your friends,and your authentic self. 

The rest is really disposable: texts, emails, impressing others ... You get the picture!

If you like this post and want to learn more about weathering your life storms, click here to find information my book: the Calmness book. 

In Calmness, 

Helga DeSousa
Author|Speaker|Coach