"If You Don’t Like the Weather, Just Wait 15 Minutes"
A few months ago, I was having lunch in Newfoundland, enjoying one of the best lobster rolls I’ve ever tasted. When I walked into the little seaside café, the sky was bright and sunny. By the time my food arrived, it had shifted to classic “RDF” — Newfoundland shorthand for rain, drizzle, and fog.
I asked the server if the weather always changed so quickly. He chuckled and said, “Here we say, if you don’t like the weather, just wait fifteen minutes.”
Sure enough, when I stepped outside after lunch, sunlight was already peeking through the clouds.
As it turns out, the same thing is true of our emotions.
Emotions Are Like Weather
According to research by Harvard neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor, the body’s physiological processes that produce emotions dissipate within about 90 seconds — they peak and subside quickly. It’s our reaction — ruminating, replaying, or amplifying — that keeps a feeling lingering for hours or days.
Think of it this way:
- Emotions are like the weather.
- You can’t control which emotion bubbles to the surface, just like you can’t control the skies.
- But you can control how you respond. The key is to pause and wait.
How to “Wait 90 Seconds”
When a strong emotion hits, try this:
- Notice the trigger
- Breathe
- Observe without judging
- Let it pass
You’ll often find the intensity drops dramatically within minutes.
Just Wait 15 Minutes!
Newfoundland weather can change faster than you can finish a lobster roll... But that’s half its charm.
And just like the Newfoundland weather, life is unpredictable, ever-changing, and usually better if you just laugh and enjoy the ride.
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