With the winter cold snap in Houston this weekend, I’ve had plenty of time to read, relax, and reflect — mostly from under a blanket with a cup of something warm and an internal argument about whether I really need to go outside today (spoiler: I don’t).

Even though the weather is temporary, we still have to prepare for it. My pipes are wrapped, my plants are covered, and my generator is on standby in case the power decides to take a little vacation — because if you’ve ever lived through a Houston freeze, you know the grid sometimes needs a nap.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how we can prepare our minds and hearts for moments of uncertainty — the same way we prepare our homes when a freeze is coming. Before the cold sets in, we insulate pipes, cover plants, and haul the tropical ferns indoors like they’re family. What if we approached emotional and spiritual challenges the same way?

Maybe we can build inner resilience before the storm hits — by cultivating gratitude, nurturing connection, and reminding ourselves that most discomfort (like 28‑degree mornings or waiting for the Wi‑Fi to reconnect) is temporary.

There’s a saying around here: If you don’t like the weather in Houston, wait a day — it’ll be different. I think that’s true for life, too. Everything is temporary. Intense joy, deep sadness, fatigue, energy bursts, hunger, fullness, love, loss — all of it ebbs and flows.

And yet we humans are funny creatures. We rush to fix anything uncomfortable and grip tightly to anything that feels good. We love control — or at least the illusion of it. Then we act shocked when temporary things turn out to be… well, temporary.

This weekend’s cold front was a good reminder that everything changes — the weather, our moods, our circumstances, even the people in our orbit. It’s all part of the natural rhythm of being human.

So next time I’m frustrated, disappointed, or tempted to hold too tightly to something fleeting, I’ll try to remember: it’s all temporary. And honestly, that’s permanently a good thing.

XX,

MG