WEATHER
Storms, Shifts, and the Call to Adapt
Weather isn’t just a forecast—it’s a mirror. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how climate change reshapes our seasons, our habits, and our emotional resilience, calling us to respond with awareness and action.
I do not know where you live, but things do not seem right when I look at the weather map. On the East Coast, the leaves on the trees have turned beautiful colors, but the temperatures have not fallen as they should in the fall. I am not saying we could sunbathe, but there has been no fire in the fireplace, and we are approaching the “dead of winter.” On the West Coast, rainfall will create flooding, followed by significant drought. What is going on? Forest fires are devastating the West and East Coasts.
Anyone can see that the weather is causing problems everywhere. Several months ago, I watched a television program about vineyards in Europe. The climate change has shifted such that the typical southern European vineyards are experiencing drought, and the northern European vineyards are blessed with great growing seasons. The climate is changing, and we must adjust.
Climate change research took off in the mid-20th century as we experienced the impact of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide gases have been increasing, and a global effort to reverse these effects has been studied by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 1988. Many of their recommendations have been taken seriously. When we go further back in history, we realize that these climate changes have been happening for centuries. They come at an excessive cost in terms of human, animal, and plant life. As the price is paid, the planet survives, and all life on the earth adjusts to the changes.
This pattern is much like the cycle of a single human life. An individual life is a microcosm of the grander earth cycle. Circumstances beyond our control invade our lives and challenge us to change or suffer. The beautiful, brilliant doctor who has a loving family and a successful career is diagnosed with breast cancer. The smart rising star of a lieutenant in the army steps on a land mine and loses his leg. The sweet 10-year-old comes down with a cough that will not go away, and the blood tests come back with a diagnosis of leukemia. Storms of all kinds enter our lives and change us dramatically.
Life calls upon us to weather many storms. We are resilient. The planet is resilient. I am sure it will be here for a long time to come. The challenge while we are here is to be responsible for our piece of it. Compost your garbage. Stop buying things in plastic containers or plastic bags. Recycle your paper and plastics that can be reused. Help your neighbors and relatives to do the same. Conserve water. Shut the tap while you are brushing your teeth. Please read about the environment and how to care for it. Watch shows that educate you about the planet you live on.
The environment is changing, and when we adjust to this change, we will be better off. So, what if you can sit on the deck for the first time in decades in mid-December? So, what if you cannot build a snowman in December? So, what if Times Square will find people in shorts within a few years? So, what if you must adjust to this unfamiliar environment? It is just the weather!
Want to explore how climate change and resilience intersect? Visit Center for Climate and Energy Solutions’ guide to climate resilience, UNFCCC’s overview of adaptation and resilience, and Grantham Research Institute’s insights on climate impacts.
If you’re reflecting on change, uncertainty, or emotional resilience, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support emotional insight and adaptive strength.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst