CLICK BELOW TO REDISCOVER HUMANITY
A DECADE+ OF STORYTELLING POWERED BY THE BEST WRITERS ON THE PLANET

I am a Category 2 Hurricane

I am a Cat 2 Hurricane. Interesting, right?!

First, what is the scientific description of a hurricane? As I paraphrase gobs of information from the NY Times, Woods Hole Oceanographic, and Wikipedia, a hurricane is a tropical storm with winds reaching a sustained speed of 74 miles per hour or more for at least one minute. With dangerous torrential rains, winds, and storm surges, they cause death and destruction. They can extend over a 400-mile radius. The hurricane’s center is cloud-free and called the Eye of the Storm and is usually 20-30 miles wide.

Yup, I am a sustained Cat 2 Hurricane.

When Mother Nature is swirling around her pent-up energy offshore, she’s likely to become a hurricane looking for a place to land. Her bandwidth can either be a gentle waltz or a rambunctious jive spinning her forces every which way, often causing colossal disaster. She is a whirling hunk of vibration. Me, too.

After living through Hurricane Ian two months ago, I’ve changed dramatically; physically, emotionally, spiritually, and even financially. Ian forced me to live in the moment. When you have no power or running water for days, playing Yahtzee becomes the day’s highlight. The experience has affected my physical surroundings and made me pause to assess a few things internally. Relearning the cause and effect of Mother Nature’s abilities and behavior metaphorically made me think of my own causes and effects.

Human Hurricanes: What behaviors lead to our personal self-destruction? What is happening during the craziness? What do we do with the aftermath? For me, I began thinking of my pre, mid, and post-energetic force as it relates to my health and well-being.

The energy that stirs within me, within all of us, is similar to that of a tropical storm brewing in the mid-Atlantic. Our thoughts and behaviors as they rev up can feel like they are way “out there,” as if we are outside of the experience, just observing. When measuring increased speed and barometric pressure, we can assume the level of destruction will correlate with the behavior. People, too?

Maybe there is a short-term project due. “Get prepared; she’s ramping up to a Cat 1.”

 “Ooh, she has been working long hours. She might take “landfall” as a Cat 2.

Or, “She’s worked every day for months, isn’t sleeping, ignores half my phone calls, and hasn’t been exercising. She’s crashing in at a Cat 5 this time.”

Based on my health and wellness history, I hover at a Cat 2. Up and down and up and down – though, for the record, over the past eight years, I am pretty damn good at staying healthier. So would I agree? Am I a Cat 2? Kind of.

I am very aware of my energy levels. It is no secret that I enjoy my highs. The ones where you wish you didn’t have to sleep, eat, or use the bathroom because you are getting so much done that you feel justified to keep going. During those times, the “red flags of the hurricane” are perhaps ignored because the energy is so infectious.

When I am involved in a passion project, energy rushes throughout my body, pinging as if I were the ball at Wimbledon. I am pumped internally and externally. In the beginning, a shallow breeze (excitement) creates momentum. The adrenaline builds as a result, so does confidence, support, motivation, creativity, and more. There is no sight of “roof, shingle, gutter, or landscape” damage yet. If the project is short-lived, the brewing may only last weeks. No “large branches are snapping, and no paranoia” has set in. I am still eating, working out, sleeping, and interacting.

Let’s go through the phases.

As I slide into a Cat 1 (74-95 mph), I’ve likely ignored a few dangerous winds kicking up. There might be minor destruction to my vessel or my mind, but my support system is intact, and there are only a few “power outages.” This phase might last a few weeks.

If I am really focused on a goal or project, I slide into obsessive, compulsive behaviors, and it is not uncommon for me to play around in the Cat 2 range (96-110 mph) for extended periods of time – months, even years. This phase seems to happen gradually, and imminent danger is almost undetectable. Hmm. I mean, what’s the difference between 95 mph and 110?

Regardless of how embedded my “healthy habits” are, this well-constructed frame can only sustain this level of beating for so long. I eventually lose balance, like the shallow roots of a banyan tree being yanked from the ground. In the physical world, the sustained force of a Cat 2 can cause extensive damage, such as power outages for several days to weeks. Me, too. If I have maintained Cat 2 behavior for an extended period of time, I am likely to be slammed into bed with an infection or migraine.

There have been multiple Cat 3 phases in my life (111-129 mph). The scientific definition of a Cat 3 is that there will be devastating damage to well-built framed homes, and many trees will snap, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.

My personal Cat 3 storms are no joke. Things get ugly and fast when taking on too many responsibilities, setting crappy boundaries, postponing all self-care, and ignoring all physical and emotional signs. The scientific measurement of hurricane destruction is based on deaths and the cost of damaged physical destruction. Just as the intensity of my category storms increases, the more destruction it leaves in its path and the longer it takes to recover and rebuild. In some cases, you cannot rebuild.

What about Cat 4 (130-156 mph)? In the “non-metaphoric” world, we evacuated during Hurricane Irma, a Category 4 hurricane in 2018, with a landfall of 130 mph. The storm swiped up the entire state of Florida. We drove to Georgia to avoid its path. With Hurricane Ian, also a Cat 4, we sat hunkered down in our living room and survived the Eye of the Storm at 155 mph. Nine and a half hours of beating. (see my four-part hurricane blogs at All Things Wellness)

During my Cat 4 times, of which there have been three in my adulthood, there were medical leaves caused by illnesses and injuries, missed holidays and events, and loss of friendships and collaborations, ultimately resulting in devastating personal or professional damage. It takes much inner and outer work to build after a Cat 4.

And, yes, you guessed it…I have lived through a few Peggy Cat 5’s where, literally and figuratively, ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. These are the mental health breaks where things get really, really dark, and you just want it all to end, for the pain to go away. These storms were the source of all three of my mental-health tattoo: 1) “in the moment,” 2) a semi-colon, and 3) a three-word phrase that is offensive to most, so I shall let you find it on my TikTok Channel. In these few instances, I was brave enough to seek medical and personal support. Cat 5’s suck.

When I first thought about my life compared to a hurricane, I was astounded at the similarities. The root causes can be determined by the energy level flowing beautifully in an ocean of harmonic, healthy bliss or energy being pent up, leaving destruction in its path.

Avoiding any hurricane in life would be ideal. Likely, you will experience a few Cat 1’s or 2’s in your life, and just as you would for a “real” hurricane, use Three P’s: Plan, Prepare and Pray.
____________________

Just for fun, here are a few facts…according to the NY Times, based on the fastest hurricanes in U.S. History:

  • The Great Labor Day Hurricane 1935, Florida, 185 mph (12,000 deaths)
  • Camille (Mississippi) 1969, 173 mph (256 deaths)
  • Andrew, 1969, (Florida), 165 mph (65 deaths)
  • Michael, 2018, (Florida), 161 mph (61 deaths)
  • Ian, (Florida), 2022 155 mph (125+ deaths)
Peggy Willms
Peggy Willmshttps://peggywillms.com/
Peggy Willms has been a trendsetter for more than 30 years. With her unique approach, tools, and strategies, she shatters the “Norm” in the health, wellness, fitness, corporate and medical fields. She is an author, certified personal trainer, sports performance nutritionist, personal and executive health, wellness, and life coach. Peggy is also a radio, docuseries, and experiential wellness retreat host, consultant, educator, and speaker. Peggy has managed multi-million-dollar medical clinics. Her unique business and work-site wellness programs have earned her multiple awards. She is a successful entrepreneur and owner of All Things Wellness, LLC. Her internationally syndicated radio show: The Coach Peggy Show focuses on All Things Wellness: heart, spirit, mind, and body. Peggy is the host and executive producer of a transformation docuseries, Coach Peggy Real-Time, which takes viewers on a wellness journey in real-time over 10-weeks. Real People with Real Problems finding Real Solutions. Peggy also conducts wellness retreats in SW Florida. A native of N.H., Peggy worked for the U.S. Army in Heidelberg, Germany. She raised her two sons in Colorado and is now a grandma. She now resides in Florida with her significant other and enjoys kayaking, biking, swimming; all things fun, and sun.

DO YOU HAVE THE "WRITE" STUFF? If you’re ready to share your wisdom of experience, we’re ready to share it with our massive global audience – by giving you the opportunity to become a published Contributor on our award-winning Site with (your own byline). And who knows? – it may be your first step in discovering your “hidden Hemmingway”. LEARN MORE HERE


2 CONVERSATIONS

TAKE STROLL INSIDE 360° NATION

TIME FOR A "JUST BE." MOMENT?

ENJOY OUR FREE EVENTS

BECAUSE WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER