April Showers Bring May Flowers: A Lesson in Resilience

By Jamie McGrew, MPA

"April showers bring May flowers" was one of my mom’s favorite sayings. As a gardener, she had an incredible gift for nurturing life—she could grow anything. Over the years, I lost count of how many times I watched her revive a struggling, nearly lifeless plant. With patience and care, she guided them through difficult seasons, helping them regain their strength and bloom once more.

Her wisdom extended beyond the garden. Whenever my life felt like it was unraveling, she would remind me of the same cycle of growth and renewal. "You know how rain helps flowers bloom? Life’s rough patches kind of do the same thing for us, “she would say. Her words were a reminder that challenges, though difficult, can foster strength, wisdom, and resilience—if we allow ourselves to grow through them.

Riding Out the Storms (With or Without an Umbrella)

Let’s be honest — no one likes  life’s storms. Uncertainty, loss, stress, setbacks...they can hit like a downpour on the day you forgot your umbrella and wore your best shoes. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and sometimes feels like it’s never going to let up. But — and I know this sounds cheesy — without the rain, nothing grows. Those tough times, as annoying as they are, help us learn, adapt, and come out stronger on the other side.

Resilience isn’t about pretending life’s all sunshine and butterflies. It’s about learning how to trudge through the mud, maybe complaining a little (that’s allowed), but keep going anyway. Like a flower fighting its way through the dirt to reach the sun, resilience helps us push through and pop up stronger, maybe a little muddy, but better for it.

How to Build Resilience (Without Losing Your Mind)

1. Roll with Change (even if you roll your eyes a little) Change is going to happen whether we like it or not. The trick is not to fight the rain but figure out if you need rain boots or just to dance in it.

2. Take Care of Yourself (you can’t pour from an empty watering can) — Eat good food, get some sleep, move your body, and ask for help when you need it. You deserve the same care you’d give a struggling plant on your windowsill.

3. Find the Lesson (even if it’s hidden under a puddle) — Struggles are rarely fun, but they do teach us something if we’re paying attention. And sometimes, the lesson is simply: “I survived that. Go me.”

4. Lean on Your People (flowers need sunlight, water...and sometimes a good support system) Don’t try to power through alone. Friends, family, coworkers, or professionals — your community matters.

5. Celebrate the Wins (even the tiny ones) After the storm, stop and admire how far you’ve come. Give yourself credit. Maybe even buy yourself flowers — you’ve earned it.

From Rainstorms to Wildflowers

Life’s storms are unavoidable. But every one of them teaches us something, makes us stronger, and helps us grow in ways we didn’t expect. The rain might feel relentless, but eventually, the skies clear, and something beautiful starts to bloom.

So next time life dumps a storm on you, grab your raincoat (or don’t — up to you), take a deep breath, and remind yourself: growth is happening. And yes — the flowers will bloom again.