A Senior Reflection: Rain, Mud, and Knowing the Difference

“You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it.”
— Denzel Washington

By the time we reach our senior years, we’ve lived long enough to know this truth isn’t poetic—it’s practical.

Rain represents hope.
A new chapter.
Better health.
Repaired relationships.
A fresh start after a hard season.

But rain never comes alone. It brings mud.

And here’s the lesson worth sharing:

Not all mud is bad—but not all mud should be ignored.

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Mud Pies vs. Mudslides (Life Edition)

Mud pies are the harmless messes:

• Learning something new and feeling clumsy at first

• Adjusting to technology that doesn’t behave

• Rebuilding after a setback

• Starting over later in life

That kind of mud?
It washes off. It teaches. Sometimes it even makes you smile later.

Mudslides, though, are different:

• Toxic relationships that drain your peace

• Financial decisions that feel rushed or pressured

• Situations that keep pulling you downhill instead of forward

• Stress that damages your health or spirit

Those aren’t “part of the process.”
Those are warnings.

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Senior Wisdom in One Sentence

Experience teaches us this:

Endurance is admirable—but discernment is essential.

When we’re younger, we push through everything.
When we’re older, we learn something better:

Some battles aren’t meant to be fought. Some mud isn’t meant to be walked through.

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A Quiet Takeaway Worth Passing On

It’s okay to want rain.
It’s okay to accept a little mud.
But it’s wise—very wise—to know when to step back, change direction, and protect your footing.

That’s not weakness.
That’s earned wisdom.

And that kind of lesson?
Absolutely worth sharing.

(I created the prompt, ChatGPT created the information.)