The delightful Pauline from Living in Paradise has invited me to take part in a 3-day Quote Challenge.  I’ve made it to Day 3.  Yay!  You can see my Day 1 quote post here and my Day 2 quote post here.  Instead of a final quote, I am going to finish off with a proverb.  You know what it is already, because I have used it as the title of this post:

“All sunshine and no rain makes a desert.”
From an Arab Proverb

desert
The desert is beautiful, but it is not enough to sustain humanity.

The All Sunshine and No rain Makes A Desert proverb has a particular significance for me.  It is my mantra and guide.

I used to fly regularly for work (I didn’t do the flying.  I was a passenger).  Several times, my plane encountered severe storms and turbulence, and in the process I developed a flying phobia.  To their credit, my employer supported me to do a fear-of-flying course, run by one of our airlines.  The course was very comprehensive.  I learnt all about weather systems, how weather affects flight, and how planes are designed to cope with severe weather.  I learnt about air-traffic control, pilot training, and safety systems, the whole works. Did you know that in an emergency, it should take only 90 seconds to evacuate a large aircraft?

Importantly, I also learned a number of breathing and relaxation techniques to manage my anxiety.  I included the proverb in my “relaxation” palm cards.  It put everything in perspective.  We need rain to sustain and for sustenance.  I live on a dry continent and rain is critical to re-charge the rivers and aquifers upon which we rely.   I found that if I focused on this when I was flying, rather than on my fear, I was much calmer.

flood2
A water supply pipe can be seen above a creek in flood.

Initially, I took the proverb quite literally, but the saying has many layers of meaning.  At least, it does for me.  George Bernard Shaw said “Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage:  it can be delightful.”  That is fine, but I’m not brave.  How do I take courage?  Some take courage in their faith in God.  For me, I have faith that with the support of my friends and family, and the skills I learned in my fear-of-flying course, I can meet many of life’s inevitable challenges, as well as have the courage to contribute to making the world a better place for us all.

wilbur
The Judy Horacek card given to me upon my graduation from the fear-of-flying course.

As I am putting my faith in an Arab Proverb, and as it is also currently Ramadan, I want to take this opportunity to wish my Muslim friends and readers, “Ramadan Mubarak”.  Thank you for your support.

Finally, instead of nominating other bloggers to participate in the challenge, I’m going to suggest other blogs, which I love.  I invite you to check them out, if you haven’t already:

  • the delightful Pauline from Living in Paradise, who invited me to participate in this challenge, and who had the courage to pack her bags and spend six years exploring this beautiful country, thus finding paradise wherever she went;
  • the wonderful Martha Kennedy from I’m a Writer, Yes, I Am!, who writes courageously, and with warmth and sincerity, about all manner of issues, including  her doubts and uncertainties about many of life’s challenges; and
  • the lovely Dawn bird from A Shared Space, whose tips on how to live thoughtfully and whose photographs of the beautiful Aussie outback, are like little moments of Zen.

Comments welcome.  Can’t find the Comments Section?  Keep scrolling.

 

18 thoughts on “All Sunshine and No Rain Makes A Desert”

  2. A great proverb to finish the 3 days and so very true, in this country we can certainly relate to it. Pleased to hear the fear of flying course worked to quell your fears.

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  3. Unlikely as it sounds, but I actually think Germany, or at least Berlin where I live, is turning into a desert because since the beginning of February there´s been only sunshine and very little rain which truly is a bit frightening I think, since I´m worried what will become of our harvests?? Everyone else around me just enjoys the endless summer, I seem to be the only one concerned. Normally Spring should be very rainy and clouds would race over the sky but every morning when I wake up, I think I´ve moved to California or Florida!!
    I also dislike flying a lot, well mostly the take off and the landing, where I drive my fingernails into the seat. 😉 And since I don´t need it for work a course to take my angst away seems unnecessary but I´m glad it helped you!

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    1. I think people living in cities can be sheltered from what is happening on the land, especially if they can just turn on a tap and get water. I hear Johannesburg may run out of water soon. The people there have cut their water consumption to just 50 litres a day. I hope you get some rain soon. It is terribly dry here, too.

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      1. That´s so true – the being sheltered from what is happening on the land. People always take so many things for granted – water, electricity… – I just wished they would learn to open their eyes and ears, listen to the news instead of playing with their phone…
        I´ve heard about South Africa too, Nestlé has a huge part in that – they actually take the water away to sell it in other countries as bottled mineral water!! How insane is that!?
        Hope you also get some rain soon!

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  4. Do you think Malcolm Fraser was quoting GBS when he told us all life wasn’t meant to be easy, Tracy?
    Wonderful that you could take what you learned on the FoF course and make it a part of your day to day life. I love the proverb too- so apt in this country.

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    1. I have no idea what Malcolm Fraser intended, Jane. I would need to go back and look at the context in which he made that statement. As far as I know, he never clarified what he actually meant, even though he had plenty of opportunity to do so. I think the fact that he didn’t, is all credit to him because he left it up to us to decide rather than trying to present himself more favourably in history.

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  5. I did not know of the proverb but I understood that the both makes your life seasoned in reading through your blog. Thank you for sharing, it does mean a lot and is nice quote.

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  6. Interesting post! Like you, I have to fly to places for work several times a month. I’m still uneasy in the air but I manage my anxiety by taking aerial photographs!

    Thank you for mentioning my blog. I’m thrilled you enjoy my posts!

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