It is hard to believe that Hurricane Sandy made its devastating debut exactly four years ago. It feels like it was only last week that I was laying in my pitch black, powerless living room watching the eerie green lights of generators going out in the distance. October 29th, 2012 will forever be known as the most horrifying day of my life. While it was a terrifying experience, this hurricane also taught me crucial life lessons that I will never forget.
1. Cherish Home
You will never realize how much you treasure home until it's taken away from you. Home is your everything. It’s where you flourish and make everlasting memories with your loved ones. For two weeks, my temporary home was a minuscule grimy room in a run down deaconry. Lets just say the second I was reunited with my house, I promised God I would never take it for granted again.
2. Don’ t take electricity for granted
No heat, no hot water, no way to gain warmth. 5 sweatshirts, 3 pairs of sweatpants, a hat, a hood, 3 pairs of fuzzy socks with slippers on and 2 pairs of gloves on each hand couldn’t even do the trick. Never take your electricity in your house for granted. Appreciate your access to warm showers and a heated house in the frigid cold winter months. It’s inconceivable how everything can vanish in just a blink of an eye.
3. Patience is a virtue
This hurricane alone was what taught me patience. I mean two weeks of waiting in incredibly long lines just for coffee and breakfast every morning, using my phone battery very sparingly, and spending almost every minute with my family. Need I say more? As hard as it may be, always be patient.
4. Count Your Blessings
While this was a frightening experience for me personally, I learned that things can always be worse. At the time I was furious and ignorant. My house felt like an ice box. I was unable to charge my phone or shower. All I wanted was my house back and I didn't care about anything else. But I failed to see that others suffered much worse than I did. I was so fixated on the minor things and I ignorantly disregarded the fact that some people lost their houses period. Their lives shattered when they realized the space where their house once stood was so empty they couldn’t even recognize it. Looking back now, it is a real eye opener and goes to show how you should always count your blessings even during challenging times in your life.
