Embrace Your Inner Ruby
By Sheri Lynn Fella
You know who’s not sad when it rains?
Ruby.
Ruby is my almost-five-year-old great-niece, and she doesn't just tolerate a rainy day—she owns it. The boots come on, the puddles get stomped—she is a whole vibe, as her momma says. And as the giggles echo across the sidewalk, we all get an important reminder: joy is always just one good splash away. And there were a lot of splashes at her little brother's birthday party this past weekend!
Ruby is also a certified risk-taker. Especially when she’s been told not to do something—wink, wink. Bravery? She’s got it in spades. Unless we’re talking about dark rooms or the Matangi bat scene in Moana 2—hey, even tiny superheroes have their limits.
From ballet class to spontaneous kitchen dance parties, Ruby’s energy is pure fuel. Yes, yes—if you’re a parent, I know what you might be thinking. That kind of energy can also be draining. But for great-aunts like me? It’s pure gold. Ruby’s spark reminds me what it means to be fully alive—curious, fearless (mostly), and always ready to turn the ordinary into something magical. A dance party can escalate into a full-scale Dancing with the Stars episode at a moment's notice.
Which, if I’m being honest, is a good reminder right now. Because let’s face it: it’s been a long winter. The snowy kind. The metaphorical kind. The kind where you start wearing slippers more than shoes and wonder if sunshine was a myth we collectively imagined last July.
And now—now!—we’re getting a soggy, slow-to-warm spring. My sweaters are already packed away, out of pure optimism (and stubbornness), and I am so ready for heat, for green, for fire pits and pool parties and not checking the forecast every three hours.
But I’m also trying not to wish time away. There’s a lesson in that too—one Ruby seems to have mastered. Be here. Right now. Stomp in the puddle. Jump on your bed. Eat the jelly bean. Cry about the jelly bean. And then move on.
So, here’s my invitation to you: Embrace your inner Ruby. Stomp in a puddle. Take the risk. Go all in on the moment—even if it’s a little muddy.
And there’s so much to look forward to, isn’t there?
My parents are about to celebrate 61 years of marriage—what a legacy of love and resilience. Easter and that elusive bunny are just around the corner, with blooming flowers and green grass right behind. Summer concerts, lake trips, sunburns, live music, sports projects that light me up, and maybe a Dominican beach getaway or two. TED is even coming to Indy, and it’s all about sports—how perfect is that?
So yes, we’re still wearing jackets and dodging storms (hopefully no more tornadoes), but the seasons are shifting. Let’s not miss the beauty in the becoming.
Let’s not just survive this season.
Let’s stomp in it.
#RubyStyle