The Storm

Above, a black storm cloud consumes the sky, poised to descend to the ground. To the right, a white avalanche cascades down the mountain. Below, a troop of soldiers fall victim to Nature’s imposing threat, the dread of imminent death bringing about mass hysteria. Two soldiers tend to a wounded but, upon looking up at the storm, begin to understand the vanity of their cause. They do not run, for there is nowhere to run to. 

This painting by Romantic artist J. M. W. Turner is a good illustration of how we feel when we are overwhelmed. Perhaps we feel helpless, incapable, or even weak in the face of it all. We are like the soldiers below—anxiously struggling to cling on to their lives, all the while wondering if it is all just futile.

You might be experiencing a storm cloud yourself, and are drowned in feelings of doubt, anger, fear or anxiety. Feeling overwhelmed is a natural part of life that comes from trying to always take on more than we should. We cannot calm the storm, so let us stop trying. What we can do instead is to calm ourselves first, and the storm will eventually pass. Just when we feel like we have no time to relax, let us remind ourselves that this is the moment we need most to make time to relax. Let us overcome this storm together.

Ivan Huang
Admin Intern