Nature has been giving us lessons — we have always experienced the strength of the summer sun, but lately it has been the rushing rainwater, freezing evenings and now the strength of the wind.
The northwesterly roared through the land, mountains and the sea for they did not have to stick to the path of the wadis like the rainwater.
Water carries debris and here the wind brought in the dust so intense that it was even mistaken for rain clouds.
Ventilation is important as we combat Covid and its variants and with the cooler temperatures it was often suggested to open the window to bring in fresh air. Oh, not so during the visit of the northwesterly as even without the windows being opened there were coats of dust in the rooms. The sound of the wind was ferocious at times making one often wonder about the possibility in damages to property under such immense pressure. Looking through the glass window one could watch the trees swaying to different directions the wind pushed them and the agility meant they survived the dust storm.
It was interesting to see them using the phrase, ‘go with the flow,’ in their own terms. But they succeeded in holding on until the wind slowed down. A cushion from somewhere landed in the garden frightening the pet as he must have wondered, ‘This too from the sky?”
We are yet to figure out whom could this cushion belong to. Everyone had one more reason to wear the facial masks. Some wanted to enjoy the weather and take a walk but the calmer in between moments also had the dust in the air. And health experts again warned to stay indoors to avoid respiratory infections.
It does not take much for nature to teach us lessons. Within minutes there were layers of dust from kitchen to the living room reminding you there are gaps enough for the dust to seep in.
In life too, we might try to make it fool proof with savings and investment plans. Yet we could be impacted when least expected just like humming and whistling wind suddenly transforming to roaring and screaming blowing waves of air that travelled across countries carrying anything that was light enough on their way.
There must be so many activities that must be occurring in the atmosphere without our awareness. But this was just a reminder it seems to let us realise how vulnerable we can be no matter how advanced we think we are – a blow of wind can spoil all plans. People found it difficult to drive as it effected visibility and the drivers naturally had to slow down. Imagine how restless we tend to be caught behind slow drivers? Now here we were having a lesson on patience.
So for those of us who have been longing to venture out, it looks like nature wanted us to stay put.
Nature always has the last word.
But do not forget the teaching from the tree – bend and bounce back, this too will pass. And the birds came back from their hiding once the wind slowed down its pace.
Life throws in many challenges but we do not have it all, sometimes it just requires to wait and let the situation pass by.
