This Side Of The Rainbow Helaine Iris ©2002

I recently took a ride to the video store to select my evening’s entertainment. A dramatic thunderstorm was passing over as I made my way across town in the middle of late afternoon rush hour traffic.

The sky was dark and the rain was coming down in torrents. I made my way into the store surrendering to the inevitable soaking I was unable to prevent.

As I lost myself in the search for the perfect film to match the mood of the evening I became aware of the sun, suddenly and brilliantly streaming through the west windows of the store.

Perfect conditions for a rainbow, I thought.

I made a quick decision, grabbed a movie, and blew out of the store like a child distracted by the bells of an ice cream truck.

“Get in the car and drive east,” an inner voice prompted. As I drove down the street I felt like a rainbow chaser. Dodging and weaving in and out of traffic with my eyes mostly not on the road, searching the still black sky for any sign of the spectral wonder I knew had to be there.

Yes! There it was. Arching across the whole city a perfect rainbow. Each color brilliant and revealing to me it’s momentary magic. I was so excited I wanted to yell to all the passing cars, “Look up!”

I pulled into the nearest parking lot and jumped out of my car to bask in this vivid gift. Time slowed down. I felt a shift in my awareness as if I were the only one witnessing this moment. I stared into the magnificent color and began to hear the song “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” I wondered where Dorothy from the “Wizard of OZ” thought “over the rainbow” was.

As I stood there, alone, in an empty parking lot I let myself imagine a delightful land where my dreams came true. I thought about Oz and how the Scarecrow, Tin man and Lion were all expressing their gifts without realizing it. I began to ponder my dreams and where I let fear and limitation stop me. Where I hold back and wait for “the right’ moment or hesitate before I step into an eager world ready to receive my gifts.

In that precious moment as the rainbow faded and my consciousness returned to normal I had a renewed sense of inspiration. I was ready to live my life more fully right here, right now. Allow my dreams to come into being, express all I am with out holding back. Not wait for a Wizard to grant me a diploma that tells me what I already know.

What are you using to postpone living your dreams? What gifts and talents are you holding back from the world? What if you started fully living, right here, right now? Where would you start?

Is it a new career that is courting you, finally writing the book you’ve been dreaming about, taking a class or pulling out your old art supplies? Why not grant yourself the diploma to be who you know you are. Why not take a step in that direction today. Right now. Live your life on this side of the rainbow.

It’s your life…imagine the possibilities!